Virginie Balekian Ghantous

Virginie Ghantous was born in 1930 in Alexandria, Egypt, to Haig Balekian and Malaka Rosa. She was the eldest of eight children, with two brothers and five sisters.

In 1953, while at a local club where families gathered, Virginie and Armand's eyes met across the room, and he asked her to dance. From that moment, they were inseparable, sharing a passion for ballroom and swing dancing at a local Italian club. They married in Alexandria in 1955, and embarked on their journey to start a family.

Eventually, the family moved to their homeland of Lebanon. They had three children: Christian, Gilles, and Gisele. The country's civil war forced them to relocate, spending a few years in Canada, where they reunited with all her siblings, before finally settling in Los Angeles, where Virginie lived for the last 40 years of her life.

With a lifelong passion for fashion, Virginie became a fashion designer at an early age in Alexandria and Lebanon, creating couture dresses, including one for the wife of the French consul. After moving to Los Angeles, she continued her career, opening a fashion studio where she designed and created wedding and evening dresses.

Virginie is survived by her husband Armand, to whom she was married for 69 years, her children Gilles and Gisele, and her seven grandchildren: Steffen, Alexandra, Vincent, André, Luc, Claire, and Oliver.

Virginie's presence lit up any room she entered, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she met. She was a loving person who welcomed everyone with open arms, making them feel like family, which was of utmost importance to her. She loved cooking and prepared meals for her family every day until she could no longer do so. For over 35 years, while the family ran an art studio, she prepared home-cooked meals daily and brought them to work for them to eat together.

Always positive, she was a beam of light, making us laugh and bringing joy to every situation with her radiant smile. She will forever live in our hearts.