Gloria Eddie Farha

is honored with a Medium Bench from Marti Farha Ammar.

When people find out that I am Gloria Eddie Farha's daughter, one of the first things they mention is her beauty. They speak generously about her physical beauty and immediately expand to her inner beauty, and always end their recollection of Gloria with a story about how much fun they have together. My tribute to my mother, Gloria Eddie Farha is about her beauty and her love of life and laughter.

Gloria was born in Oklahoma, the daughter of B.D. "Babe" and Pauline Farris Eddie. Gloria was an only child, and in a traditional Lebanese/Arabic family this was a difficult circumstance. Not only did my grandmother Sitti have only one child, but it was not a boy. So my grandfather Giddi did not even have a namesake.

Nevertheless, Gloria was dearly loved and cared for. As an only child and a girl, I believe that they sheltered and protected her from most of life's heartaches. She was indeed beautiful and as the only child of one of the Lebanese communities patriarchs and successful leaders, Gloria was perceived as quite the catch in marriage. Gloria met Philip F. Farha. They married and had five children, three girls and two boys. All of whom today are successful in their respective endeavors, producing 10 grandchildren for Gloria and Phil.

Gloria was a first generation college graduate. Although both of her parents were self educated and accomplished a great deal in their lives, Gloria was the first generation to have the opportunity to go to college. Gloria, not only excelled in her educational endeavors but also excelled in all that she tried to accomplish.

Her home and family was first and foremost, and as a result her children were provided with the best of everything life had to offer. Feeding a family of seven (an ordeal in and of itself) turned out to be what most people would call a feast at least five times a week. The combination of delectable and labor intensive Lebanese food with the best and healthiest American food were staples in our family dinners. In addition, my mother's home always was the most desirable place for fun and food in the entire neighborhood and among our friends for decades. There is hardly a person that one of us grew up with who doesn't remembers the enormous candy drawer which, by the way, still exists to this day for adults and, most importantly, Gloria's precious grandchildren.

Not only is Gloria the consummate homemaker and mother, she is the most genuine of gift givers I have ever known. My mother to this day takes gift-giving very seriously. She will spend hours of time in thought and effort trying to buy that perfect gift for whomever. Every Father's and Mother's Day she would search high and low finding a present for even her own children's godparents, and even today with all of her children grown, she still shops for our only remaining godparent, Uncle Fred Monsour.

My favorite memories and fun times with mother are at weddings and conventions when the live Arabic music is played, watching her on the dance floor dancing her heart out. As a kid I used to love seeing her pick up the masica or accordion and playing the same few tunes over and over, always amazed that my mother could play a squeeze box!

Gloria today even in her mid-seventies is as beautiful as ever. She is graceful (on and off the dance floor) and always fun and giving. So it is only natural that when I think of heroines and particularly my heroines, I think of Gloria's mother, Sitti and her daughter, my mother Gloria next!

Submitted by Marti Farha Ammar

August 12, 1998