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Anne Shumas died on February 27th, 1999
The end of an era
By Vi and Ted smith
Anne Yamna Shumas – March 4th, 1901 to February 27th, 1999. This is an end of an era. Yamna Shumas was the last surviving first generation of the Rahey clan who can to Canada at the end of the last century and the beginning of this century. She was born in Zahle, Lebanon on March 4, 1901, came to Canada in August 1912 with her mother, sister and brother to join their father who came to Canada a few years earlier. They came by boat from Lebanon, there was a shipping strike so they stayed in Marseille for 2 weeks. Finally arriving in New York, Ellis Island, then across Canada by train.
Yamna attended Seymour School for about 2 years, as she had to look after her siblings while her mother was out peddling her dry goods. She started work at Gordon Campbell Tailoring. She learned the trade on her own and became an excellent seamstress, and used to sew housedresses and aprons for mother and mother in-law so they could sell them to their customers.
On October 12, 1919, she married Toufik Shumas. Her mother in law said they could not go on a honeymoon so they entertained guests for a week at their home. The following summer they had a beautiful baby boy, they enjoyed him for only 2 weeks, then he died in his crib. They never knew what the cause was; they thought a mosquito or something might have bitten him. In the years following their sons Fred and Clarence and their daughter Violet were born.
Yamna always had the family together, especially at Christmas and Easter; she would have about 25 for dinner. She was so hospitable and always welcomed people to her home. Even though there wasn’t much money, there was always that Lebanese generosity of love and food. In the late 40’s when Wally Fayad’s wife and four children came to Canada from Zahle, Yamna took the three girls, Odette, Yvonne, and Agnes to the tailor shop where she was working and got them jobs; where Yvonne met her future husband and her sister, Agnes, met and married his brother.
When Farris Geha and his wife Victoria came to Vancouver with their sic children, Yamna was wonderful to them, telling them where to shop for the best prices. They enjoyed visiting back and forth, especially Mr. Geha, he loved to visit the Shuma’s residence and argue with Yamna’s mother, Mariam Ray, who also lived with them as well as mother-in-law. There was always a houseful. The name Rahey was shortened to Rahy and then to Ray.
In the early 50’s, when Eddy Gareb came to Vancouver, followed by his brother George, Yamna was their mother away from home. Her home was their home. Later when Doris came to Canada, Yamna was her surrogate mother, helped her prepare her wedding, and had a wedding breakfast for the bridal party and family in her home. She was always called Auntie Yamna.
Yamna’s father, Abraham Ray, returned to Lebanon in 1925 to visit his parents. While he was there both his parents died and he never returned to Canada. For many years he kept writing and asking Yamna to visit him in Zahle but she could not see her way clear as money was tight and she always worked. She would send her father money whenever she was able. However, finally in 1966 she and her son, Clarence, made a trip to Lebanon but in the meantime her father had died. The only member of the immediate family to see him was Yamna’s daughter, Violet, in 1955 when she made an extended trip to Britain, Europe and Lebanon. She stayed with her grandfather in Zahle for six weeks and she said that was the highlight of her whole trip.
Yamna was happy to return to her place of birth, which she left at the age of 11 years. She remembered where all the buildings and houses were of her relatives and friends, and she spoke the language fluently. While they were there Clarence met a d married Marie Jallad in Zahle. Before the wedding Yamna spilled boiling water on her neck and chest and suffered third degree burns. The doctor was amazed at her recovery with no scars. She did not tell her family in Vancouver of her burns, as she did not want to worry them. They were stunned when she got off the plane and they saw the bandages. The doctor said her recovery was due to her good blood.
She was s wonderful wife, her husband had to retire early from his job as a molder in the iron foundry, his health was bad and he was crippled with Arthritis, but Yamna kept on working out of the house and taking in sewing at home. She designed and sewed clothes for her children and grandchildren and friends.
When her son Fred was in grade 12 at Vancouver Technical School, the Principal, Mr. Sinclair, phoned to say that it was too bad Fred didn’t take an academic course, as he was University Material. Yamna said she would do all she could to send him. Relatives would say to her “ let him work, you cant afford to send him,” but she said he had the brains and she would wash floors if necessary to send him to U.B.C. He graduated with his Bachelor of Applied Science Mechanical Engineer, and later obtained his Master’s Degree.
She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, daughter, daughter-in-law, and mother-in-law. She touched all who knew her in some special way and truly personified everything good in this world. She was buried on March 4th, which would have been her 98th birthday.
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