Catherine "Kay" Marie (Massoud) Tamer

“Kay” is at rest with the Lord, after passing peacefully, October 6th, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kay was born August 16, 1940, in Utica, NY, to Joseph and Catherine (Nazick) Massoud.  She attended Our Lady of Lourdes and graduated from Utica Free Academy. On June 6, 1959, she married the love of her life, Joseph G. Tamer, in St. Louis Gonzaga Church. They shared 58 wonderful years until his passing in June of 2017.

Kay was employed at Bendix Aviation Corporation and at the family concern, Massoud’s Oud Lounge, until she assumed her most cherished job – mother. Later, after her children were grown, she worked at JCPenney’s and Hannaford’s in New Hartford.

Kay loved to entertain, especially when it came to cooking and baking for the occasion. Every function or holiday found a table filled with Lebanese and other cuisines, and always plentiful enough that every guest left with a care package. Her passion and skill for baking of cakes and cookies, was shared with many, as she made custom cakes for graduations and events for family friends and customers, and a staple of area holiday seasons as she made and sold platters of her special holiday baked goods. The last and perhaps best custom cake she made was the wedding cake for her very own daughter.

Kay was very active with New York Mills PTSO during her children’s’ school years and loved being a room mother.

Kay was strong in her faith.  During her years in New York, she was a member of St. Louis Gonzaga
Church, as well as, Our Lady of the Rosary, where she served on the Altar Rosary Society for many years.

Kay’s family and the bond they shared was the most important part of her life and it was important to her that they all know how much she loved them.

Kay is survived by her daughter, Doreen (Tamer) Williams and her husband, David Williams, of Maryland; and son, A. Joseph Tamer and his wife, Julie (Betz) Tamer, of Arizona; five adored grandchildren, Elizabeth and Caitlynn Williams and Abigail, Christian, and Zachary Tamer; two step-grandchildren, Sophia and Jessica Larrea-Betz; step-great-granddaughter, Isabella Larrea-Betz; her brothers, John Massoud, Joseph Massoud, and Omar (Judy) Massoud; sister, Ann (Caleb) George; brother-in-law, William Lafferty; sisters-in-law, Janet Massoud and Millie Tamer; and dozens of loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Kay was predeceased by her beloved husband, Joe Tamer; and her siblings, Edna Lafferty, George Massoud, and Bernadette Davis and her husband, James Davis Jr.

The family would like to thank Hospice of the West, for their compassionate care and special niece Dominica Thornton, for helping to care for Aunt Kay and being there for the rest of us.

The Divine Liturgy of the Faithful Departed will be celebrated by Father Boutros El Hachem, Saturday, October 15, at 11 a.m., at St. Louis Gonzaga Church, Utica.  Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.  The family will receive visitors at church on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

In memory of Catherine, please consider contributions to the St. Louis Gonzaga Building Fund. Envelopes will be available at the service.

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