Ketty Cueter

Ketty Cueter (nee Moussalli), age 86, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Ketty was the beloved wife of the late Antonio; the adoring mother of Celeste (Jonathon) Hofley and the late Gabriel; the cherished grandmother of Gemma and Adrienne; and the dearest sister of Daisy and Joseph Moussalli. She was preceded in death by her sister Mary, her brother Antoun, and three siblings who died in infancy: Denise, Hiam, and Joseph. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews. Ketty was born on September 19, 1936, in Damascus, Syria. Her father, Kamel Moussalli, was a well-known dentist, and her mother, Celestine, was a microbiologist. Her parents instilled in her a love of learning and strong values of faith and charity. She met her husband, Antonio (Tony), while he was visiting family in Syria. After they married, Ketty and Tony settled in Harper Woods, Michigan, and later Clinton Township, Michigan, where they raised Celeste and Gabriel. Moving to America as an adult with little fluency in English could be intimidating for anyone, but not for Ketty. She embraced being American. Her unique accent stoked curiosity in many. Her humor showed in a typical reply when asked where she was from: “I am from a little place. Perhaps you have heard of it? Planet Earth.” No matter the language (she spoke five fluently) or the situation, from the produce section at the grocery store to staff and residents at Gabriel’s nursing home, she could connect, encourage and bring out the best in people. She was a caregiver to Gabriel for nearly 35 years. There was no limit to what she would do to care for him. She did it no matter what was required—from learning nursing skills to navigating bureaucracy to cooking her favorite Syrian dishes or sweets to win over nursing home staff. Ketty was known for her generosity and unmatched ability to give of herself in the service of others. She could turn the most challenging situation around with her boundless charm and perfect words of wisdom. Ketty drew much knowledge from her precious books containing countless bookmarked pages. Her memory was encyclopedic, including world history, recipes for healthy food, diagnosing medical conditions, or, most important, a religious passage to suit the moment. She never shied from sharing the deep convictions that made her so special. Ketty was a proud Catholic, a proud American, a proud mother and grandmother, a defender of the faith, and a tireless advocate for the disabled. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 1, 3-8pm with a 7:30pm Trisagion prayer service at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc. 36900 Schoenherr Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48312. Instate: Friday, June 2, 10am until 11am funeral service at Our Lady of Redemption Melkite Catholic Church, 29293 Lorraine Ave, Warren, MI 48093. Interment: There will be a procession immediately following the funeral mass to Resurrection Cemetery, 18201 Clinton River Rd, Clinton Twp, MI 48038. Memorial contributions may be sent to Our Lady of Redemption Melkite Catholic Church, 29293 Lorraine Ave, Warren, MI 48093 or Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Development Office, 1820 Mount Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207. Please share memories with the family at their “On-Line Guestbook” at WujekCalcaterra.com.

Ketty Cueter

September 19, 1936 - May 24, 2023