Mona Youssef Cherri

Mona Youssef Cherri, our beloved mother, wife, sister, daughter, teacher, and friend passed away on Monday, July 12, 2010 after a valiant struggle with leukemia, surrounded by family and friends at her home in Plano, Texas. Mona was born on November 5, 1956 in Abadiah, Lebanon, the eldest child of Yvonne Madi and Mitri Abo-Chedid. While attending the Lebanese University in Beirut she met the love of her life, Joseph Ali Cherri, whom she married on June 23, 1977. Two years later, after obtaining a degree in Mathematics, they decided to move to America due to the civil war in Lebanon.

Mona was a computer scientist educator and consultant. She and her husband attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she received a Masters in Mathematics in 1982 and a PhD in Mathematics in 1985 and was the recipient of the MacLauchlan award. The family then moved to Denton, Texas where she attended the University of North Texas and received a Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1996. She taught at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway for a couple years and then moved back to Denton to become a Computer Science faculty member at Texas Women's University (1989-1998).

Her primary research was in speech and voice recognition dealing with compression/decompression of signals. She contributed many articles to professional journals and was the recipient of a National Institutes of Health grant (1984-1988). She was a member of IEEE, Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines), and Pi Mu Epsilon (honorary national mathematics society). She was recognized for her lifetime achievements by being elected to Who's Who among America's Teachers (2006), Who's Who among American Women (2007), and Who's Who in America (2008). She was a dedicated, caring, and gifted teacher, beloved by her students. Throughout her career as an educator, she effectively mentored both students and colleagues.

In 1998 they moved to Plano, Texas and Mona worked as a consultant for various companies such as EDS, Ericsson, Plexon, and Excel Communications. In 2004 she joined the Computer Information Science faculty at Northlake College in Irving, where she taught to the present.

Mona was a great mother, who was devoted to her children and grandchildren. She loved nothing better than snuggling with her children while talking to them about their day. An accomplished and health-conscious Lebanese cook, she served her family wonderful and nourishing meals. On Saturdays, she would balance work and family life by preparing a great quantity of Lebanese food and freezing it for later use during the week. She was disciplined about following an exercise program to maintain a trim and youthful figure. A beautiful woman inside and out, she also kept a beautiful and inviting home where she welcomed many. She loved to dance, listen to music and encouraged her children to play musical instruments. Mona always had a smile on her face and a kind word for others; she was very compassionate. She spoke fluent English, French, and Arabic but she knew best the language of the heart.

While at UNT she met Paul Fisher, the department chairman, who introduced her to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After her baptism she was very active in her Denton ward and later in the Plano 4th Ward. She loved the gospel and the Savior and was an example of the best Christian virtues.

She is survived by her husband Joseph, her son Mike, his wife Marlene and their precious children, Joseph, Sebastian, Dominic, and Sophia, they are also expecting a new baby any day, her sons John, David, and Jacob, her parents, Yvonne and Mitri, and her dear siblings Claude, Nada, Nina, Eli, and Toni. She was very proud of her family and devoted to them. The video presentation reflects many moods, memories, and moments in her life surrounded by the people she loved.
The family will receive friends Friday, July 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options. A funeral service to honor and celebrate Mona's life will be held Saturday, July 17 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel on 2401 Legacy Drive 75024. Interment will be at Restland Cemetery in Dallas, Texas following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation, 3520 Lake Ave., Suite 202, Wilmette, IL. 60091 or 847-424-0600 or www.leukemia-research.org

Proverbs 31:10, 20-21, 25-31 describes Mona Cherri very well:

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.