Yusuf "Joseph" Massey Farris

Joseph (Yusuf) Farris My dad Joseph Farris (Yusuf in Lebanese) was raised in tough times, he was born in Lebanon in 1929 during the Ottoman Empire hold over Lebanon and the region. His Father and Uncles went through Ellis Island, New York to look for an Education, Work to support their families and settled in Springfield Missouri. My mother's family did similar but instead of Springfield ended up in Joplin Missouri. In Missouri they joined the family business started by his Uncle Frank. Uncle Frank started the business of clothing and textile named Farris Brothers and every time a brother came from Lebanon he would divide the company up equally between them. Anyone in the community that was poor and in need knew to come to the Farris Brothers to get special treatment - whether it be free clothing, food, shelter, or a job. They started their day by attending morning mass at St. Agnes Cathedral, then on to work. They gave it their best - more than an Honest Day's work. The work ethic was different than today's norm, they would not come home till they fulfilled all of their duties - my Father said we are not talking 8, 9, or 10 O'clock at night, but sometimes staying on the road till the end of the week. They lived a basic simple life, Church every day, Work every day, helping whenever they can. An honest day's fulfillment. My dad went to Lebanon for a summer break and so did my mother Justine - where they met, they lived 4 houses down from each other in the same village. Their homes were next to the Cathedral of the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. This is the first Patriarch site on Earth that was begun by St. Peter himself, and it is still going strong today in Lebanon. My father attended elementary school at the Patriarch site. After marriage to my Mother Justine, her father Deeb urged my dad to stay in Lebanon where they started a manufacturing company called Ceramco. After a year my dad decided to go to America and help his brother Fr. Semaan Farris build a Maronite Catholic Church in Danbury Connecticut and told my mother you are coming with me or not. Her brother said - till death do you part, so Go, and she did. They moved to Danbury Connecticut where the project of building St. Anthony's began. My dad helped on the building committee to build the Church and Community and my mother also helped with the women's club. My father and his brother Msgr. Semaan Farris were recruited by Danny Thomas to join the team to build St. Judes Children's Hospital in Memphis Tenn. This was a project that Danny Thomas promised St. Jude that if he was successful he would leave behind. Danny Thomas wanted to Help those in desperate need and also to give the Lebanese Americans a name for themselves in America that depicted their tradition and culture of, community, thanksgiving, giving, and helping. That hospital today serves those kids stricken with Cancer and other life threatening diseases. Families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. My father always told me to strive to replicate Danny Thomas' life of working hard, and giving back to the community as God wants us to. My father's job was the Chief Chemist for the city of Danbury and later on for the State of Connecticut. Our relatives encouraged my dad to move to Lebanon for a short period so that the kids can learn the language, culture, food and most importantly spend the last days with the Grand Parents. We did move to Lebanon for approx. 1 year and fulfilled some if not all of that. My Father was stricken with Cancer in 1994 and endured 19 operations at Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic. He was very strong willed to live and be there for his kids, he survived all those operations and struggle, and He developed adult onset diabetes and lost part of his lower leg to that in 3 operations. He later went through 5 heart operations - the latest one a couple weeks ago at Mayo. Mayo gave my dad a clean bill of health. I still struggle to determine why he passed after that. My brother Sam said - Eblan you are trying to figure everything out like a scientist, but God is not - his plan was that on this day he would call dad to be home with mom. My dad's goal was to instill into his children the old time Lebanese Traditions and Culture so that we could best reflect them in the United States. An Honest Day's work, Honor and Respect. Also, a tradition and culture centered around Faith, Hospitality, Education, Obligation and Giving back to the Community. He raised 4 boys that represent the best of Lebanon in the United States. He taught his Children the meaning of Lebanese family and Religion. He started his day with Mass (either at Church or EWTN). He memorized all the Lebanese prayers and was devoted to Jesus and the Blessed Mother and also the Lebanese Saints, Saint Charbel in particular and also St. Rafqa, St. Hardini, St. Stephan, St. Abouna Yacoub and constantly taught me their life stories. It's tough - 4 months, losing 2 of the most Precious People in our life - our Parents. But, we balance this with their teachings of - We are not born here to stay, we are passing through this Earth hopefully on the way to Heaven. And, also, not asking question, but having faith in God's Plan - Accepting God's plan as he made it (period).