Shortly after we got settled in 1936, Mom had to return to Montreal to have a kidney operation to remove kidney stones. It was a difficult time. Six small children, operating a new business and learning a new language was a real challenge. However, we all started at an early age to do our part to make our business a success. Over the next 40 years our store became a landmark in the city and our family played an important role in the life of the community.

Frank, Joe, Jean, Albert, and Abe Zakem

Dad worked hard, long hours. He enjoyed working with the public and had a great sense of humor. He was known as A J to many people and always had a cigar in his mouth even when it was not lit. Mom would be busy picking up burnt out, half smoked cigars all around the house. It’s a wonder he did not burn the house down. The other item that she kept picking up was empty Scotch bottles hidden in the closets. Although I was not much for hard liquor, most of the Zakems liked their Scotch and Dad was no exception.

Mom was born in 1904. She was the daughter of Abraham Marji (1869—1952) and Addalh El Marji (1885—1942) The only other child from that marriage was my aunt Mary who married Joseph Kays, her first cousin. Joseph Kays was a son of Mary Marji, a sister of my mother’s father Abraham Marji.

Shortly after my mother’s mother (Addalh El Marji) died in 1942, her father Abraham Marji, at age of 74, married Ramza Khoury and they had three children, Karem, Alise

and Abraham.

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