All four children of Nicolas Yacoub Berouti had their obituaries written in the newspaper “Falastin”. The obituaries often provide insight into the circumstances of their death as well as who they were as people and what values they stood for. Below are the original obituaries, written in arabic, as well as the professional translation into English (I see these documents as being of great historic importance to the Beroutis and for that reason, I had them translated professionally). Translation into English was done by Loghat Arabic Translation. The obituaries are listed chronologically, by publication date.
Negib Berouti - 15 June 1928
A painful loss
Yesterday, Mr. Negib Berouti, one of the most prominent figures of this town, went to his orchard in Salama, healthy and well, to check on it as usual. Sadly, he was suddenly carried from his orchard to his house, his body motionless as a result of a heart attack that struck him at around eight in the morning.
Dr. Corni was summoned to the orchard immediately after the deceased was found lying on the ground, but soon realised there was no hope and pronounced Mr Berouti dead.
His funeral will be celebrated at 9 in the morning today. May God grant him mercy and inspire his widow, sons, and all members of his family with patience and consolation.
Emile Nicolas Berouti - 30 May 1929
A great calamity
If the impact of a calamity is measured by its effect, then there is no doubt that the calamity Jaffa is experiencing is immense and its tragedy is great. God has afflicted it with the loss of a unique man from among its working men and loyal sons, a man who people depended on in times of trouble and resorted to in times of difficulty. On Tuesday afternoon of this week, the telegraph wires carried a news item from Beirut that we believe is most ominous for the people of this city and most severe in its impact on their hearts. It is the devastating news of the death of the late Emile Nicolas Berouti, a man who was honourable, content, moral, noble, chaste, generous, and devoted to charity and benevolence.
He was one of the leaders of this country, a man who God took in Beirut eight days after undergoing a surgical operation in his stomach, and he was not yet sixty years old.
God took him after leaving, in all aspects of his life, countless good effects. He was an outstanding, humble employee during his service in the management of the Jaffa-Jerusalem Railway Movement from its establishment until the Great War. He provided the best example of integrity and good behavior in his business and was a useful member of the social community. His opinion and reasoning were referred to in numerous commercial and statistical matters in which he was extremely expert, may God have mercy on him. Furthermore, he actively participated in every national project and supported every right demand with his pen and tongue.
When we mourn him, we mourn a man who combined all the qualities of men and was a loyal friend and patriot whose loyalty was not tainted by any blemish. The body of the dear deceased arrived yesterday evening at the French Hospital in this town. From there, the funeral proceeded with a grand celebration befitting his status and that of his honourable family. May God have mercy on him and extend sincere condolences to his widow, sons, and relatives.
Michel Berouti - 31 December 1932
The grand celebration of the funeral of the late Nakhleh (Michel) Nicolas Berouti
Death leads us with its palm, while finest gems are chosen
The grand celebration of the funeral for the late Nakhleh Nicolas Berouti was held at ten o’clock yesterday morning. It was a remarkable event, one of the most impressive Jaffa has ever witnessed. It highlighted the importance of this great dignitary and loyal patriot, known for his countless noble acts.
Nakhleh Nicolas Berouti had been suffering from neural paralysis for years, which hindered his ability to work. More recently, he also lost the ability to speak. Yet, despite these hardships, he continued to oversee his work, offering advice and guidance to his sons until his final hour. He never tired of reading the newspapers or staying informed about current events.
Throughout his life, may God have mercy on him, he performed many great deeds. In his business, he was known for his integrity and fairness. His expertise in agriculture was well-regarded, and he achieved much success. From a national perspective, his contributions were substantial. He was one of the earliest supporters of the Palestinian cause, to which he devoted much of his effort and resources. The articles he published in prominent English newspapers, his writings in the Palestine (Falastin) newspaper, and his generous donations to national projects all stand as testament to his patriotism. We still remember that, may God have mercy on him, he was the last person to connect his house to the electrical grid. This was after the town had boycotted the Zionist Rutenberg project.
As a humanitarian, Nakhleh Berouti’s contributions were vast, though often hidden. He gave to charity quietly, ensuring that his left hand did not know what his right hand was doing. The wide participation of various charitable organisations, regardless of their sect, at his funeral procession demonstrates just how much he meant to them. His loss is deeply felt, especially by the poor and needy families he supported with kindness and generosity.
It is no wonder that the entire town gathered yesterday to bid him farewell, led by dozens of wreaths, a convoy of cars, and trumpets. The procession was so long that no one could see its end.
The Palestine newspaper offers its deepest condolences to his family, his brother, and his honourable sons. We share in their grief and pray for God's mercy upon him, that his good deeds are rewarded, and that his family are blessed with long lives.
Gabriel Berouti - 11 April 1934
The death of an honorable man
The honorable Berouti family in this town was shocked by the death of its chief and elder, the late Gabriel Berouti.
He passed away into God's mercy at eight o'clock in the morning of last Sunday, 8 April, having fulfilled his religious duties. His obituary resonated deeply in all circles, especially among his family members and many friends, due to his noble morals, good conduct, chaste tongue, and compassion for the poor and wretched. Most notably, he spent a substantial amount of his money on the poor and needy, without any ostentation or fanfare.
At ten o'clock in the morning on Monday the day before yesterday, his funeral took place in a grand celebration held in the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua. The funeral march included the city's notables and dignitaries, led by men of charitable societies, students of the nuns' school, scouts of the Orthodox school, and wreath-bearers. The funeral procession continued in this solemn manner until it reached Apollo Cinema. From there, it continued to the cemetery where the beloved deceased was laid to rest amid sighs and regrets. May God have mercy on the deceased, multiply his good deeds, and grant him a place in His spacious gardens. May God also inspire his bereaved widow, his grieving son Antoine, and his entire family with patience and solace.
