Kinder, LA- Georgia Attrep Karam, born on October 23, 1927, peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in her home in Kinder, Louisiana, surrounded by her children on July 11, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial honoring Georgia will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 11 o'clock a.m. at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Kinder. Rev. Fr. Alan Trouille will officiate. Georgia will be laid to rest at Carter Memorial Cemetery in Kinder immediately following the services.

Georgia's family will receive friends and visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Kinder on Saturday morning, July 20th, beginning at 9 o'clock a.m. until the time of the service with the Holy Rosary being prayed at 10 o'clock a.m. All of Georgia's arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Kinder.

Georgia was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana, and was the fourth of seven children of Syrian immigrants Mose and Nazha Attrep, who instilled in their children the importance of faith and education. Georgia spoke fondly of her education from Bolton High School, where she graduated in 1945. After high school, Georgia was eager to build on her foundation from Bolton High and enrolled in the nursing diploma program at Mercy Hospital in New Orleans, despite resistance from her parents about going to the "big city". She graduated from Mercy Hospital in 1948 as a registered nurse and returned to Alexandria as an operating room nurse at Baptist Hospital. In 1951 she met and married the love of her life, Albert Karam, and began a new chapter in Allen Parish. She initially worked as a Home Health Nurse, visiting homes and families in the Allen Parish area and helping them with various health needs. Though she worked outside the home on and off for 30 years, she always held her family first, as evidenced by her loving home and the growth and success of her five children. In 1960 she started the first Head Start Program in Allen Parish. Nine years later she helped open the Kinder Hospital as the head nurse in the operating room. Later she taught Kindergarten in Oberlin. Her greatest professional accomplishment, however, was working at the Allen Parish Mental Health Clinic from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, where she eventually served as Director and was awarded the Oakdale Boss of the Year in 1978. Several years after the untimely death of her beloved Albert, Georgia married Paul Karam.

She is survived by her son, Albert G Karam M.D. (Mary Emma); two daughters, Carolyn Anne Karam Khoury (Eli) and Mary Jude Karam Antoon (Richard) stepdaughters Rosie Karam Abide (Bill), and Paula Karam D.D.S.,19 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and literally hundreds of nieces and nephews.

Sadly, Georgia is preceded in death by her husbands, Albert Karam and Paul Karam D.D.S., one daughter, Susan Genevieve Karam, one son, Mark Stephen Karam, her parents and siblings.

Our beloved mother, Georgia, was loved and respected by all who knew her and truly enjoyed life. She raised an amazing family, had lots of friends and always had time for her cherished hobbies. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, reading, cooking and sewing. Her voice can still be heard in our memories singing, Whatsoever You Do . Even in recent weeks, with her incredible memory, she talked fondly about her favorite book, Pillars of the Earth . She loved doing needlework and her prized works of art were the detailed, sequined Christmas stockings she made for each of her grandchildren as well as many other children . She took great pride in the art of cooking. For us, she was the "Queen of Kibbie", meticulously forming each one with patience and skill so that all were consistently shaped and delivered the perfect taste. In her later years TV became her pastime. Her daily schedule included morning Mass, Password, the Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and as we all know, Fox News. In her prayer life, she read The Stations of the Cross by Fulton Sheen consistently over the years. She drew strength from her favorite Psalm 121, "My help cometh from the Lord". It was her devotion to our Lord that gave her perseverance and courage to face all of life's struggles.

The family extends a special thanks to all those who cared for mother over the past five years, Beth, Maria, Brenda, Amy, Sissy, Lizzy and Martha. Each day, you lovingly cared for her, holding her in your hearts and hands until the moment she met her Maker.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. Condolences and words of comfort may be shared with Georgia's family at www.adroinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.