Evelyn was born in Jaffa-Tel Aviv during the British Mandate over the Holy Land, immigrated to the USA in 1983 and became the oldest in her family to become a US citizen. Since her immigration to NC, she has been living in Wake, Chatham and Burke counties. Her last residence was in Cary, NC.
Born as Evelyn Issa Obeid Al-Khoury, she got married to Saliba Khalil Tanas shortly before her 16th birthday and has the following children, grandchildren and great grandchildren living in the USA:
Her children and family operate several businesses in the Triangle area including Tanas Hair Designs, Tanas Accounting, Tanas Physical Therapy, Solomon’s Restaurants among other enterprises. Her nine Children and their spouses are listed here: Khalil & Samar Tanas, Raja & Amal Tanas, Hani & Nelly Tanas, Nabila Tanas-Lambrechtse, Ramsey & Marianne Tanas, Michael & Vera Tanas-Jawabreh, Jalal & Denise Tanas, Mark & Suzan Tanas-Keith and Issa & Sylvana Tanas. The restaurants are operated by her nephews, Elias and Victor Khoury.
Her twenty-four grandchildren and spouses were the joy of her heart and are listed chronologically: Christopher & Ashley Tanas, Anthony Tanas, Munir and Jamie Tanas, Gabie Lambrechtse, Alexander & Robin Tanas-Pittman, Majid & Laura Tanas, Raja Lambrechtse, Thomas & Rebecca Tanas-Hanna , Naji Jawabreh, Nancy Jawabreh, , Jonathan & Hanna Tanas, Jesse Tanas, Adam Keith, Nadine Jawabreh, Eve Tanas, Andrew Keith, Trevor Tanas, Jacob Tanas, Joseph Tanas, Natalie Jawabreh, David Tanas, Juliana Tanas, Alexander Tanas and Jocelyn Tanas.
Seven great grandchildren: Don-Christopher Tanas, Isaiah Tanas, Sullivan Pittman, Avana-Evelyn Pittman, Vera-Lynn Tanas, Lydia-Evelyn Tanas, Jonathan Tanas Jr.
She was superseded in her departure from this world by her parents Issa Obeid Khoury and Nazareth Louh Khoury, her husband Saliba Khalil Tanas, her brothers Joseph Khoury, Rizkallah Khoury, Solomon Khoury, Tawfiq Khoury and Wadih Khoury ; and is survived by one brother Fawzi Issa Obeid Khoury of Detroit, Michigan. She would have celebrated her 70th wedding anniversary on March 22, 2012.
Visitation will be held in the Renaissance Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 14, at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A second visitation immediately preceding Mass at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 5801 Falls of the Neuse Rd, on March 15, at 1:30 PM and then Mass at 2:30 PM. Interment will follow at Brier Creek Memorial Gardens, 7601 ACC Blvd., Raleigh. All friends and family will meet at 5:00 PM for dinner at Solomon’s Restaurant, 7321 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to the St. Raphael Catholic Church.

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