Jeannette Balian, 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at her home in Altadena, California. She was born on February 12, 1924, in Sudan, Africa, to Avdoka Talisse and Basil Chammas.
The youngest of eight children, Jeannette was raised in Aleppo, Syria. She lost her mother at a very young age and was sent to live with nuns at the Franciscan School in Aleppo. Jeannette, or as she was fondly known, Jano, immigrated to the United States, landing in New York in the spring of 1949. She worked as a couture dress maker and designer until she married the love of her life, Alexander Habib Balian (president, Balian Ice Cream Company) on October 26, 1958, at the Huntington Hotel, Pasadena.
Jeanette raised her beautiful family in Altadena, California. She was famous for her exceptional culinary skills, specializing in the food of her hometown Aleppo. Jeannette nourished the people around her with love, faith, kindness and incredible food. She fiercely loved her family. She has three children, Kalmouné Balian Antoun, Aida Balian Petro and Habib Alexander Balian II and their spouses, who she considered extended children, Roy Antoun, Peter Petro and Andrea Fugate Balian. She has nine grandchildren, Matthew Ryan Antoun and his wife Christina Barsamian Antoun, Adam Anthony-Alexander Antoun, Sara Nicole Antoun, Danielle Michelle Petro, Amanda Nicole Petro, Jeffrey Joseph Petro, Alexander Habib Balian II, Alisa Ingrid Balian, and one great-granddaughter, Summer Marie Antoun. Jeannette is also survived by her older brother, Joseph Chammas, 104, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Jano is predeceased by her siblings Josephine Sakkal, Mary Hajjar, Antoinette Secard, Samia Chammas and George Chammas.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 18, 2022, at St. Anne’s Cathedral in North Hollywood at 10 a.m. where Jeannette served the church and worshiped her faith for decades. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Cancer Support Community Pasadena, where Jeannette’s daughters, Kal and Aida, are dedicated volunteers (Kal is the current board president). You can donate at bethekey.cscpasadena.org/balian. Or you can donate to City of Hope in honor of her granddaughter, cancer survivor, Danielle Petro, ourhope.cityofhope.org/jeannettebalian.
