Evelyn Corey died Wednesday April 27, 2016, 6:48 p.m., God created another free bird at Hospice Of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg. Evelyn S. Corey, 81 of Rossford, Ohio was released from a long battle with COPD from second hand smoke. Born in Kfeir, Hasbaya, Lebanon January 21, 1935, to Salim Sahely and Saba Shahinah. Evelyn had to quit school in the 6th grade to help take care of her family. She immigrated to Canada in 1957 to be with her sister Sheffika until she went to the States where in 1958 she married Tufe A. Corey in Toledo, Ohio and raised 5 children. Mom was a vibrant, strong, colorful person. She was outspoken and strongly opinionated and anyone who knew her, knew she was a die hard non-Republican. No Bushes or Trumps in her love list! She loved to learn and was a fan of Dr. Oz, The History Channel, Discovery and PBS. She kept up with politics, world news and events and loved to discuss what was going on in the world. Though Mom had little formal education, she had lots of life wisdom she shared with the many people she met as owner and operator of Dempsey’s Cafe in the old North end, then known as Little Syria. She inherited the bar in 1973 when her husband died. Never having been in a bar before, she didn’t know what a bottle of liquor was but quickly learned how to be a business woman. She had many friends over the years who came to Dempsey’s to laugh, sing, cry, talk politics and be mothered by Ma. She treated her customers as family and helped many people. She’d feed a stranger, give someone gas money and lend an ear to anyone in need. New Year’s Eve was always a special night at Dempsey’s with a large spread and party to thank everyone for their patronage throughout the year. At holidays, she’d send dinners to neighborhood friends who were without family nearby. Highly motivated, she at one time owned 36 rental units, which she had bought one at a time.
Mom liked the simple things in life. The Farmer’s Market downtown and shopping at Meijer’s were her favorite Saturday past times and her family will remember her as the best Lebanese cook ever. No one could make better grape leaves. Holidays were always special. Nothing pleased Mom more than having a house full with family and friends, especially grandchildren for a large dinner. This meant it was hashwee time-time for Mom’s special turkey stuffing of lamb, rice and pine nuts.
After Mom’s heart attack and triple bypass in 2010, she began passing of the torch and teaching her son Albert and daughters Mary and Ann to make the holiday dinner. And yes, there was a right way to stir the ground lamb or gel the fresh cranberries. Mom had a very forgiving heart and never held a grudge and insisted that we didn’t either. Her house and table were open to all, and many considered her a “second mom.” She wouldn’t hesitate to tell them if they were screwing up, to quit smoking cigarettes, drinking too much or any other habit that might be self-destructive. If she lectured you, you knew she cared.
Mom loved lilacs, hyacinths and carrot cake. It didn’t matter whose birthday it was-Ma would say, “Everyone likes carrot cake!” Some of Mom’s favorite sayings were, “We can’t live Forever.” and “Learn from my mistakes.” If something was wrong “It’s okay, it’s okay” to comfort us. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tufe and her 6 siblings. She is survived by brother, Issa; her children, Deborah (Russell Carmony), Mildred, Mary (Mike Goodman), Ann (Chris Kiehl), Albert(Sandra Mather); grandchildren, Daniel Corey-Goodman, Derek Corey-Goodman, Spencer Kiehl, Trevor Kiehl and Daniel J. Taylor, and many nieces and nephews.
As published in The TOLEDO Blade
