Claudette Ina

September 14, 1942 - April 2, 2021

Claudette Ina, 78, passed away on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 following a sudden illness. She was born on September 14, 1942 to Eid and Linda Hamway in Aitaneet, Lebanon, a bucolic village in the Bekaa Valley. Claudette’s early life was rich with love. Her parents instilled in her the values of family, faith, food, and country. With six siblings and a plethora of uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends, Claudette lived in a bustling house. Everyone was welcome in their home as evidenced by the aromatic Turkish coffee, savory mezza, and delectable pastries always spread on the table. Claudette’s homes here in the United States were no different. Her culinary creations, learned at a young age, were the envy of many. We knew it was because she cooked with love. Besides learning to cook as a teenager, Claudette became a teacher at the local catholic school in the village. Some of her fondest memories were of the many children she taught alongside the Antonine Sisters, the lessons she conveyed, and the plays in which she performed. Claudette was sad to leave when it was her time to emigrate west, first to Canada and then to America to live with older siblings. Just before her journey she traveled with her parents and younger brother, George, to the Holy Land. Leaving them behind as she boarded the plane, she put her trust in God and prayed to Mary, the Holy Mother, to guide her on this new path. Claudette arrived in Cleveland, Ohio in April 1965 residing with her brother Bahjat, through whom she met the love of her life, George. They were married in November at St. Maron Catholic Church in Cleveland. They started their family and family business, Solon Office Supply, in Solon, Ohio. Claudette took care of their home and four children while George plied away to make the business very successful. Knowing the value of education and faith, Claudette stayed active with her children at their schools, St. Francis of Assisi, Regina High School, and Gilmour Academy, and supported them through their college years. She even took college classes herself at Cuyahoga Community College. Family and travel went hand-in-hand from the many trips to Canada to visit Claudette’s siblings, their families, and her parents to one-tank trips with family friends to exotic getaways for George’s business conventions. They made it a priority to take their children on at least one family trip each year. And she and George garnered many dear friendships through the years. Even when she couldn’t see her family and friends, she kept in touch with them all. Claudette was so proud to become an American citizen. She always said it was the greatest country in the world. She was so happy to receive her American passport and eagerly anticipated voting every in election, deeply valuing the importance of a citizen having a say in her government. Another love was Fairuz. When not listening to heavily-played cassette tapes of the famous Lebanese chanteuse, Claudette could be heard singing her favorite Fairuz songs. Claudette had the great pleasure of seeing Fairuz live in Las Vegas, accompanied by George and several of her siblings. Who can forget Claudette’s passion for golf? The seed for that love was planted nearly 40 years ago. Claudette took lessons at the former Landerhaven Golf Club and immediately caught the bug. Not long after, Claudette and George joined Acacia Country Club in Lyndhurst where they played in – and won—many events and made lifelong friends. They carried that love to the golf courses they played in Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida, first as snowbirds then as permanent residents in 2000. That same year they became parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Church in Naples Park. Claudette is survived by her husband of 55 years, George; her children Grace Holdaway, Mark Ina, Lena Ina and Cindy Ina; her grandchildren Gabrielle Ina, Adam Holdaway, Evan Holdaway, Alannah Cancilla and Dominic Cancilla; her siblings, Violet Helal (Morris), Shouah Hayek (Joseph, deceased), Charlie Hamway (Bianca, first wife Ruth, deceased), Omer Hamway (Amale) and George Hamway (Theresa); brother-in-law John Ina and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Bahjat (Bill) (Renee) Hamoui and in-laws Maroun, Angeline, and Assad Ina (June). Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist, Naples, FL, Friday, April 9, 2021 at 10:30 am. The Funeral Mass will be Live Streamed at https://saintjohntheevangelist.com/events/online-funeral-mass The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations in Claudette’s memory be sent to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105, and the Aitaneet Foundation, P.O. Box 93234, Cleveland, OH 44101. To sign her guest register or to leave online condolences please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.