Philippe Constantine Tarazi, age 89 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at Hunterdon Care Center, under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice after a short illness.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, January 2, 1931, son of the late Constantine and Victoria Azar Tarazi, Philippe was raised in Heliopolis, Egypt, and had lived many years in Beirut, Lebanon, prior to emigrating to the United States in 1976. He had formerly lived in Cleveland, OH, Livingston, NJ and had been in the Flemington, NJ area for the past sixteen years.

A banker with Dutch Bank, NYC, NY, for many  years, he specialized in international finance.

Philippe was a devout catholic and a longtime communicant of St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ, where he attended daily mass and strived to find a deeper relationship with God as he traveled life’s winding path.

Outgoing and caring, Philippe was known for his sense of humor as well as his ability to make any situation both meaningful and fun. He was a ‘doer’, always looking out for others and this is especially true with his family. One day, while at work, he met and fell in love with a young Ms. Rosette Sikias, who was also working at the same bank. The couple would marry on June 27, 1959 and move to Beirut where they would begin to raise their family. As the area changed rapidly in the 1970’s, it was soon unsafe for the young family and Philippe and Rosette literally left with their children with only the basics of living and set out for the United States in hope of providing a safe new world.

With hard work and determination, the couple created an environment of love and compassion, and taught their children the values of hard work and loving your fellow human. Teaching them that they should cherish every day, he soon found himself with a large extended family earning him the title of ‘Papa’. He would dote upon his children and grandchildren and many happy memories were made over the years. He made an effort to be there for them in every way possible; from family vacations to the Jersey Shore and Ocean City, MD, to high school football games, he was there with a smile as well as an ear to listen along with sage advise.

A professional body builder in his younger years, he loved to travel and explore as well as watch a western movie with a glass of good scotch! Above all else though, family time was the most important as was attending church on a daily basis.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Yolande Tarazi, and two brothers, Robert Tarazi, MD and Raymond Tarazi.

Surviving are his loving wife, Rosette; his children and their spouses, Gigi and Joel Jones, Serge Tarazi, and Nicole and Brian Stanaway; his grandchildren, Christopher and Lauren, Melanie, Philip, Danielle, Sean, and Jacqueline; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joseph and Yolande Sikias; his nephew and his wife, Rami and Roxanne Tarazi; several extended family; and many dear friends.

***Due to the inability to have a public ceremony at this time, and knowing how vital the love of family, friends, and the community is when someone passes, everyone reading this is encouraged to leave a detailed note on this page—perhaps a favorite story, or maybe the way Philippe touched your heart—something to help inspire a measure of comfort and hope to all who read the comments.***

A Mass of Christian Burial at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ will be announced once restrictions are lifted under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Private family visitation, followed by vigil prayers and burial at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ, was private under the care of Wright & Ford Funeral Home.

Please visit Philippe’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in Philippe’s honor may be made to St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”