Wedded for 70 years
Nazha Frangie Kaddo and John F. Kaddo marked 70 years of marriage on Sunday. According to their daughter Janette: They were wed in 1951 at St. John’s Maronite Catholic Church in Zgharta, Lebanon. After they married, John and Nazha, with baby Hasna, traveled to Caracas, Venezuela, in South America in search of work. They added Theresa, Anthony and Janette to their family tree. But their ultimate dream was to make North America their home. Just as their hopes dwindled from ever getting that opportunity to go to the U.S., John received notice that he would be allowed to enter the U.S. to work. But Nazha had to sail back to Lebanon with their four young children to await her opportunity to join him. A year later, John sent for Nazha and the children who traveled by an Italian ocean liner. In 1969 as naturalized citizens, they cemented their roots in the U.S. by adding their fifth child, Mary Rose. The couple were laborers who worked well into their senior years. Without any formal education, Nazha was able to work as a seamstress for Cluett, Peabody & Co. (Arrow shirts), the Marvin & the Jacobs Manufacturing Corporations and Comfortex. John found employment with Cluett Peabody & Co., Holiday Inn and CDTA. Nazha and John also owned Edna’s, a mom-and-pop neighborhood grocery store along with apartment buildings where they supplied neighbors with many years of service, affordable housing and homecooked meals. It was a place of gathering in the North Central community of Troy. They also sponsored and housed many immigrant family members and friends who also had the dream to make America their home. The couple as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. “Nazha’s faith to Jesus, our Virgin Mary and the Maronite-catholic religion for her entire life has guided her and given her strength throughout her almost 94 years of living,” said their daughter in an email.
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