Rachel F. Mazares

Waltham - Mrs. Rachel F. (Aboud) Mazares, of Waltham, died Tuesday, March 27, 2012 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 86.

Rachel was born on December 15, 1925 in Grand Mère, Quebec, a daughter of the late S. C. Aboud and Mary (Hanna) Aboud. Raised and educated in Grand Mère she graduated from Standstead College in Quebec. Rachel worked as the ladies clothes buyer for her father's company, S.C. Aboud Clothiers for many years before moving to the United States in 1966.

She was an active member of St. John of Damascus Church in Dedham where she sang in the church choir. While in Grand Mère she was the church organist and also was a talented piano player. Fluent in three languages, English, French and Arabic, she was also a talented cook and baker of both Greek and Arabic foods. Remembered as a wonderful and caring mother her greatest joy was being a mother and "Sitto" to her granddaughter.

She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph V. Mazares and her siblings, Sam, Daniel and John Aboud, Lydia Wakeen, Mary Braha, Helen Swide and Marguerite Abdou.

Rachel leaves her daughter, Joan C. Mazares of Waltham and her granddaughter, Michelle C. Mazares-Monga; her brother, Paul Aboud in Grand Mère, Quebec and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rachel's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, April 1st, from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 8:45 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to The Church of Saint John Damascus, 300 West Street, Dedham, where her Funeral Service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park.

Memorials in her name may be made to Joslin Diabetes Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02115.