Juliette Marto

Our beloved mother Juliette Marto passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at the age of 89. While her family and friends' hearts are broken, we know she passed from this life to heaven the way she wanted -- without fuss or illness. She is in heaven, having a glorious homecoming with our Lord and beloved family who went before.

Juliette always said she was born in the "Holy Land," which was Jerusalem, Palestine. She was the second-oldest of 10 children. She was educated in French parochial schools and spoke three languages, Arabic, French and English. In 1953 she married Tewfik "Ted" Marto in Bethlehem. They moved to Amman, Jordan for a time and then emigrated to the United States in 1956. They settled in Portland, Oregon, along with Ted's two brothers and their families.

Juliette became a widow at age 40 with four young children. After teaching French at Central Catholic High School for a time, she entered high end retail of women's apparel and relocated to Lake Oswego in 1977. It was a career she maintained and relished for almost 50 years, working first at Nordstrom, I. Magnin and then at The Mercantile. She remained at The Mercantile for almost 30 years. She loved the store owners, her co-workers and her customers. She was a consummate professional, always immaculately groomed and dressed. Just prior to her passing, she had enjoyed a lovely retirement party hosted at the Waverley Club by Mercantile owner and friend Victoria Taylor.

She possessed energy and a force of personality at odds with her petite physical stature. She could not suppress her generosity to her children, grandchildren and various charities.

Juliette is survived by her four children and their families: Robert Marto with his spouse, Janice of Alpharetta, Ga., Susan Crowell (Patrick) of Tualatin, David Marto of Canton, Ga., and Angela Migdol (husband Robin) of Tigard. Eight siblings also survive her. They are Musa Marto (Josephine) of Atlanta, Ga., Violette Azizeh of Bethlehem, Israel, Henriette Walker of Scottsdale, Ariz., Linda Pano of Houston, Texas, Dr. Michel Marto (Lucy) of Amman, Jordan, Sammy Marto of Los Angeles, Samia Marto de Asbun (Alberto) of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Adib Marto (Ghada), Amman, Jordan.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2019, at the Holy Names Chapel on the Marylhurst Campus, 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. Please plan on arriving early as shuttle buses will transport guests from designated parking areas to the chapel.

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