Rafic N. Habib
elevated 6a5e9 July 31, 1932 – November 21, 2021
elevated 6a5e9 Funeral Mass:
elevated 6a5e9 November 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
elevated 6a5e9 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Richmond Hill, Ontario
elevated 6a5e9 Interment
elevated 6a5e9 Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Thornhill, Ontario
elevated 6a5e9 Obituary
elevated 6a5e9 With great sadness and hope of resurrection, we say goodbye to our beloved Rafic N. Habib who passed away peacefully on November 21.
elevated 6a5e9 For the better part of his long professional career, Rafic was the General Manager of the Lebanese daily newspaper Lissan Ul Hal in Beirut. He later retired as Managing Director of the Family Bookshop Group headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, as part of his tenure at the Middle East Council of Churches. Upon retirement, he moved to Toronto where he was a regular cantor at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Richmond Hill. He was known for his good heart, his sense of humor, his service to the church and the community. He was a big fan of English football (soccer), and was an ardent supporter of Liverpool FC.
elevated 6a5e9 He was preceded in death by his father Nicolas, his mother Marie and his brother Fouad, as well as his father-in-law and mother-in-law Michel and Helene Daou. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Dalal (Dolly) Daou Habib, his children Nicolas (Nadia), May, Nadim (Christine), his sisters Najwa Beiruti and Nohade Bianchini, his grandchildren Sami Hamad, Nicole Waring, Christopher Habib and Karen Habib, his great grandson Kayden Hamad, his brothers-in-law Naji Daou and Joseph Daou and sisters-in-law Najate Lahoud and Nohade Khoury, and numerous nephews and nieces and their children.
elevated 6a5e9 In lieu of flowers, please you may send donations to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Richmond Hill, ON.
Nadim, Christine, deepest condolences to you and your family. Such a wonderful family, and wonderful community and professional life contributions.
I will always remember him as generous, supportive, caring, and a great family man. I am a friend of the family, but he made me feel like part of it. First time I left Lebanon was to spend Christmas vacation at the family’s Limassol house. Then, when I escaped Lebanon during the war, he received me again in his Limassol house and helped me travel to achieve my training in Germany, like I was one of his own children. I will always be grateful for that and all the nice time we spent together. He and his lovely wife, built a great family. Nicolas is still my 42-year best friend, carrying the same high values. Ammo Rafic has touched the lives of many, and will always have a special place in my heart. Rest in peace.
آلله يرحمك يا رفيق، تعلمت منك كيف أحب وأساعد من دون مقابل … سأظل مشتاق إلى جلساتنا يا أطيب حبيب 😔
May God have mercy on your soul, my friend رفيق, I learned from you how to love and help expecting nothing in return … I shall miss your companionship, my best beloved حبيب 😔
Julia and I send condolences and love to the Habib family. Rafic is loved and remembered by so many. It was great to read all the family that cares for him. We’d like to think we are part of that extended family. I will always remember watching my first European Championship with him. Rest In Peace.
غالي على قلبنا الله يرحمك
عمو رفيق كنت و رح تبقى ذكرى من اجمل الذكرايات
جيرتنا كانت كنز بلبنان و بغربتنا كمان كنت كنز لأن وجودك كان الدفىء الحقيقي بهالبلاد البارده
حضورك بمناسباتنا ابتسامتك اللي ما بتفارق وجهك و ثقافة كلامك المحترم و نصائحك عن خيرة سنين كانت صفات عوضتلنا عن احساس العيله اللي نحنا بحاجه اله و بحياتي ما بنسى من اول لحظه وصولي على كندا قديش اهتمامك انت و دولي يذكرني بأغلى الناس ماما و بابا فاروق و فريال اللي محبتك الهن كانت موجوده دائما
هلق اتت بمكان و زمان بعيد بس كل الناس المحبه الك رح تضل تذكرك بالمنيح لانك كنت قريب من الكل بقلبك الكبير
I will always remember his laughter, his jokes, the rivalry we had with his Liverpool and me and Nadim’s Man U and the good times we had over the years in Cyprus. I will truly miss him and will keep the great memories, may he rest in peace in Heaven. My deepest condoleances to the Habib family. Amen!
Bahar and I remember Uncle Rafic as a man who loved life to the fullest . In my 32 years of close friendship with Nadim , Uncle Rafic never forgot to wish me “happy birthday”. He will be missed dearly . My deepest condolences, prayers and thoughts to Aunty Dolly, Nicholas, May and Nadim .
Great memories with Rafic -tennis at the Castle in Limassol… family book shop… renovating the apt in Beirut… he was good man with a big heart. May he Rest In Peace.
Condolences to family and friends that knew Rafic. I will miss the great conversations we had with him and no one will ever say “Of course!” as passionately as he did. With love – Ian, Thanh, and Winston
I never had the chance to meet Amou Rafic but I am honored to be his son’s (Nadim) friend. By knowing Nadim, his values & high morals I know that he was raised by 2 loving parents. May your soul Rest In Peace Amou, you must be so proud of the beautiful family you created & now left behind. My deepest condolences to the Habib family
We had the pleasure of befriending Nadim while he was a student at the University of Miami, which turned into a lifetime friends. We met Rafic & Dolly a number of times, which made us aware of where Nadim’s character traits came from–kindness, loyalty, honesty, and humor. In many ways Nadim is Rafic, Jr.!