Martha Ganem

Martha Louise (Nouhan) Ganem died peacefully on May 12, 2022 with family beside her. She was 88. Martha was the devoted spouse of Wilfred Ganem for nearly 64 years. She was a proud native of Detroit, Michigan, where she met Will. They married and lived several years in the Detroit area and New England. In 1969, the couple moved with their children to Clifton Park, New York, where they remained for the next 53 years. Together Martha and Will founded Ganem Contracting Corporation, specializing in historical building restoration, which is in business today.
Born in Detroit within the large, close-knit Syrian community, Martha was the eldest daughter of Elizabeth (Fadell) and Peter Nouhan. She was a graduate of St. Philip Neri High School, and completed additional coursework at the College of Saint Rose (Albany). From an early age she was a caregiver and helped raise her younger sisters. Prior to marriage, she worked alongside her beloved father at the family-owned grocery stores and in accounting at Parke-Davis.
Martha was the foundation that allowed for a successful family-owned business, where she managed the office and bookkeeping. She steadfastly helped her children thrive academically and professionally, and celebrated their successes more than her own.
To know Martha was to grasp the depth of her Catholic faith. She devoted her life to helping people, near and far, and holding them in her daily prayers. An active member of Corpus Christi Church (Round Lake) for more than five decades, Martha participated in ministry service by baking bread for communion; taking communion to the Home of the Good Shepherd; and teaching Bible study classes and third-grade religious education. She served on the Building Committee and the Parish Council.
With unmatched kindness and generosity, Martha contributed time and resources to innumerable charities. She transformed her personal health struggles into courage to help those suffering similarly. Of most importance to her was family reunions and engaging with friends through long walks, playing bridge, and book group discussions. Like her father who taught her, she was a talented cook of East Mediterranean cuisine and shared cherished recipes, especially kibbeh and b'learwa recipes, with all. In true Syrian cultural hospitality, she loved to treat friends to home-cooked specialties and evenings of dinner and musical theater. Martha will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Martha is survived by her devoted husband, Wilfred; her four children, Joseph (Sharon), Elizabeth (Richard), Peter (Janet), and Jacqueline (Charles); sisters, Carole, Ghislaine; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a large extended family. She was predeceased by her parents and brothers, Harry, Joseph (or Roger), and Gordon.
The memorial service will be held at Corpus Christi Church (Round Lake) on Friday, July 22, 2022 (visitation, 10:00am; mass, 11:00am).