Souad Elossais

Souad Elossais, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Thursday, March 27, 2025. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025, at St. George Orthodox Church in Cedar Rapids, followed by a Trisagion Service at 7 p.m. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the church. Burial will follow at St. George Orthodox Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids is assisting the family.

Souad was born in Ain Arab, Lebanon, on June 10, 1943, to Kareme and George Elossais. She immigrated to the United States in 1988, where she cared for her father and nieces and nephews. Souad worked at Mikhael’s Restaurant and retired in 2010. In her retirement, she spent much of her time with family, caring for nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews. She also loved to cook and made sure everybody was well-fed. Souad was a devout Orthodox Christian and loved her faith and the church.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Salwa Bunch; brother, Mikhael Elossais; brothers-in-law, Michael Kacere and Richard Laham; as well as her nephew, Ricky Laham.

Her memory is cherished by her brother, Elie (Afifi) Elossais; sisters, Sonia Laham and Ensaf Kacere; as well as sister-in-law, Debby Elossais; brother-in-law, David Bunch; and her nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, whom she loved as her own children.

Memorials may be directed to St. George Orthodox Church or to the family for an established memorial in her name at St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Ain Arab, Lebanon.