Fr. John Hamatie brought Holy Communion to Selwa on her 95th birthdayThe Central Florida community of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of downtown Orlando is saddened to share the news of the passing into eternal rest of one of the communities eldest and dearest members, Mrs. Selwa Hiresh, originally of Lebanon.
Mrs. Hiresh, aged 95, lived a life focused on her love of Jesus Christ and living in the way that God would have wanted her to have lived.
Selwa had the most beautiful smile and everyone who ever met her instantly became friends with this dear classy lady.
She and her late husband +Michel had been blessed to have had four children: Mitri, (LouLou), Samia (Kamal), Sammy (Karen), and Lillian (Farid). Selwa was blessed with ten grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and the dearest of friends. Selwa for many many years attended St. George's and always wanted to go to church to light a candle. She loved church.
Selwa was the finest example of a Christian. She lived a long life because she thought first of others before herself.
Recently, just days ago, while hospitalized and in pain, Selwa was visited by a young man. He came to pray for her and to ask God to intervene directly to heal Selwa. Instead of Selwa praying with him for her own healing, she petitioned the young man to let her place her hand upon his head and she blessed this young man, she asked prayers for he and his family. This was the kind of classy lady that Selwa Hiresh truly will be remembered as being.
Her services will be held this Thursday, January 14th, at 11:00 a.m., at the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of downtown Orlando. Archpriest John Hamatie will be officiating at the services for Mrs. Hiresh.
With the passing of Mrs. Selwa Hiresh, the community has lost the last one of the original Central Florida Arabic members. We have but memories of the great summer days and nights, the events, the stories, the 'good times.' God Rest Your Soul in Christ's Heavenly Kingdom taunt Selwa. You will forever be missed.