Esma Younis

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Esma Kheir Younis on January 12, 2026. The funeral will be held on February 21, 2026, at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles. She was 87 years old.

Esma was loved and admired by her family and all those who knew her for her strength, good nature, and hospitality. She was a blessing in our lives, the matriarch of our family, and a pillar of the community. We will forever love and remember her. May her memory be eternal.

Born on July 7, 1938, to Dr. Wadih and Marie Kheir, Esma left her homeland of Douma, Lebanon, at the age of 21 to come to the United States of America. Early on, she and her loving husband, Edward Younis, experienced the profound sorrow of losing two children in infancy. With incredible strength, Esma went on to embrace motherhood fully with Michael and Michelle, who became the light and joy of her life. As a devoted mother, she poured all her energy into loving her children and providing them with opportunities. She would raise them with the traditions of her Lebanese culture, language, and expertly prepared cuisine, and bring the beauty of her culture to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Esma beamed with joy as she recounted the new phrases and favorite meals she taught her grandchildren. In fact, Esma was always surrounded by children, whether it was her grandchildren or the children of friends and relatives, and she made them feel special and understood. She never forgot a birthday or a favorite baked good. To the younger generation, Esma was a fountain of wisdom and an example of grace and generosity, connecting them to the beauty of their culture.

Esma’s love for her family is only matched by her personal strength and resilience. In a time when women were expected to stay at home and make do, Esma thrived as the head of her household. She was a clear-eyed decision-maker who quickly learned the ropes of a new country, and whether in the domestic or financial sphere, her say was always final. She didn’t just raise a beautiful and successful family; she built an extraordinary career as a highly skilled Arabic Language interpreter for the courthouses of Los Angeles County. For more than thirty years, she navigated the city’s vast network of highways to bring clear understanding and justice to countless people. Just as she excelled at connecting her community and family to culture, Esma served as a vital bridge for others, providing these language services.

Esma was reliable and a center of the close-knit Doumanis community and the broader Lebanese diaspora in southern California. She gave generously to family, friends, and strangers alike. She was a model of hospitality, inviting friends, family, and members of the community into her home and welcoming them with cups of Turkish coffee and refreshments. All knew they could count on Esma for her openness and her ability to serve the community. She faithfully served the church in countless ways, from baking trays of baklava and her famous date cookies for annual bake sales to going above and beyond as President of the Ladies Society, which hosted the Debutante Ball to initiate young women into society. Her contributions strengthened community bonds across generations. She raised money for her hometown as President of the Doumani society and continued to raise donations throughout her adult life, and even into retirement, most recently helping to fund the town’s nursing home.

Esma never stopped connecting people to her homeland or resources where there was a need. She built a family and a career and uplifted a community. Her legacy remains a blessing, and her life an example of generosity to us all. Ya Asoumi, mafi mitlik.