Joseph Simon Nohra

Deacon Joseph Simon Nohra, 79

Joseph S. Nohra, 79, of Liberty Township, Ohio, greeted his Lord and Savior and joined his wife, Betty Claire (Barnum) Nohra, his wife of 45 years, in Heaven on April 6, 2015, after a lifelong battle against Heart Disease.  Joseph spent his final days at home, resting peacefully with his family and friends by his side.

Joseph was born on November 18, 1935, in Youngstown, Ohio, son of Rizek Simon Nohra and Mary Galip Nohra.  He graduated from Ursuline High School in 1953, and he received the first Distinguished Alumni Award given by Ursuline.  In June 1957, he graduated from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.  Upon graduating, he was awarded the Youngstown University Pin, which was an honor bestowed upon only five students each year who excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities.

Joseph was employed by The Cafaro Company from October 1, 1956 until his retirement December 29, 2000.  He proudly and loyally served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, as well as a member of its Board of Directors.  He loved the Cafaro family and all the people with whom he worked there for so many years.  His career and catholic vocation is a testament to the strong bond that exists between the Lebanese and Italian communities in Youngstown, both of which he deeply cherished.

Following his retirement from The Cafaro Co., Joseph served as the Treasurer of JJC Investment Trust from 2009 until his permanent retirement in 2014.  He also practiced briefly as a Certified Public Accountant; for which he was certified on March 3, 1967.  He was a former member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Joseph and Betty were married on Oct.15, 1960, at St. Maron Parish, Youngstown, Ohio.  They met when Joseph hired Betty as a private nurse to care for his ailing father.  Joseph was often heard telling his family and friends that he “first fell in love with her ankles,” which is often all that he saw of Betty while she cared for his father.  He affectionately called Betty throughout their 45 year marriage his “Mestidda” (or beloved wife).  While Betty passed August 1, 2006, she always remained the love of his life and his “soul mate.”

Joseph leaves with great pride his eight children:  Mary Ann McCann and husband James, and Tabby George and husband Albert, all of Cortland; Jacquelyn “Jacci” Duda and husband Robert and Atty. Jude Nohra and wife Rebecca, all of Canfield, Ohio; Rebecca Caruso and husband Joseph, of Liberty Township, Ohio; Joseph Nohra and wife Ann Marie, of Struthers, Ohio; Joanne “Annie” Wagner and husband Dr. Timothy Wagner, of Boardman, Ohio; and Elizabeth, of Arlington, VA; and his 24 grandchildren, whom he adored with all his heart:  Alexandra (May) Hale and her husband Taylor, Justin May, Lauren, Erin and Sydney McCann; Carolyn and Joseph George; Jacob and Mary Duda; Adrianna, Elan and Isabella Caruso; Meckenzie DePasquale, Ava, Vivian and Evelynn Nohra; Elizabeth, Bridget, Emily, Justin, Benjamin and Liam Wagner; and Joseph and Dominic Nohra.

Joseph also leaves so many loved ones:  his sisters, Rose Thomas, Julie Schiavone (husband John) and Elizabeth Emch, and his sister-in-law Carolyn Barnum; his many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews from the Thomas and Emch families; his current and former pastors, his many cousins, including Ron, George, Vince, Jeff and Joe, his (and Betty’s) dear friend of 43 years, Joanne Fish, his “brothers” Eli, Joe and Chuck, and all those many people in and around this community that he loved so dearly.

Besides his wife Betty, Joseph was preceded in death by his father Rizek, his mother Mary, his brothers-in-law, Nasef (Thomas) and Kenneth (Emch) and other loved ones.

Until his death, Joseph served for 34 years as a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church, having been ordained on December 7, 1980.  He served both St. Maron and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parishes in Youngstown, Ohio.  From January 1, 2005 until August 2, 2008, he also served as the Administrator of St. Maron Parish.

He greatly loved the Mahoning Valley and its people, and he generously gave of his time and talents, including as a Director, Trustee or Committee Member of:  the Board of Directors of The Youngstown Diocese Endowment Fund; the Diocesan Board of Education; the Distribution Committee of The Youngstown Foundation; the Board of the Hine Memorial Fund; the Advisory Board of the Antonine Sisters Adult Day Care (including serving as Chair); the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Education Foundation (including servings as President); the YSU Board of Trustees (including serving as Chair); the Youngstown State University Foundation; the Higher Education Funding Commission of the Ohio Board of Regents; the Juvenile Justice Center Community Advisory Board (including serving as Chair); the St. Elizabeth Development Foundation Board; the Board of Directors of Stambaugh Auditorium; the Board of Trustees of Villa Maria High School; the Board of Directors of Assumption Nursing Home; the Board of Trustees (and Board President) of Millcreek Child Development Center (a/k/a Millcreek Children’s Center); the St. Maron Education Foundation (of which he was a founder, the Treasurer and permanent Trustee).

He received many awards for his dedicated services and steadfast leadership, including the Heart of the Community Award (American Heart Association), an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Youngstown State University, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ursuline High School, the Distinguished Citizen Award from Youngstown State University, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Williamson College of Business Administration, and the Massabke Medal, the highest award given to a Maronite Catholic for distinguished service.

If you knew Joseph, you know how strong his faith in Christ was, how much Joseph loved his immediate and extended family and friends, and how much he cherished our community, especially St. Maron Parish, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Youngstown State University and Ursuline High School.  He was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Those of us who survive him will forever cherish the memory of his unconditional love and loyalty, and his willingness to always forgive.  He will be deeply missed.

The Family also wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to Joseph’s care givers, Benjamin Hayek, not only his physician but a dear friend, Mercy Hospital of Youngstown, Comfort Keepers and Hospice of the Mahoning Valley.

The Family will receive family and friends at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Youngstown, on Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., again at St. Maron Parish, Youngstown, on Friday, April 10, 2015 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., and at St. Maron Parish the next morning, Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.  A celebration of Joseph’s life in Liturgy will follow at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 11, 2015, at St. Maron Parish, followed by his burial by the Family at Resurrection Cemetery.  Arrangements are lovingly entrusted to the Schiavone Funeral Home.

The Family respectfully requests, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made in memory of Joseph to The Joseph S. and Betty C. Nohra Scholarship at the St. Maron Education Foundation (of which Joseph was a founder), 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown, Ohio 44511 and/or to The Joseph S. and Betty C. Nohra Scholarship at The Youngstown State University Foundation, 606 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio 44502. 

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