Brian James Thabit

God needed a special angel so he brought Brian James Thabit home on Jan. 14, 2022. He was 57.

Brian was old school in many ways. His work ethic was second to none – the physical kind. He was big on family history and tradition. His recall of events involving his parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts going back to childhood was astounding.

Brian was a blue-collar guy but comfortable talking with anyone he encountered no matter their station in life. One reason for this was that he had no ego to speak of and treated everyone with utmost respect.

His youthful enthusiasm for everything he did was contagious to everyone in his world. He was an excellent and patient teacher, happy to impart knowledge to those willing to listen. Brian also was a gifted, humorous storyteller but wasn’t aware of this skill because it came to him naturally. As his cousin Louis Saliba said: “No one could enter a room, capture everyone’s attention and make an off-the-cuff speech without even trying like he could.”

Brian was born Feb. 1, 1964. His parents were the late James and Virginia Tanber Thabit. He had two siblings, Karen and Michael. After graduating from Whitmer High School in 1982, Brian was employed at Jeep nine years and Chrysler in Perrysburg 25 years, retiring in 2018.

On Sept. 5, 1987 Brian married Bernadette Gasiorek. They had three children - Brooke, Brandon and Bailey.

Brian’s three passions were his family, his church and Michigan football. Despite a grueling workload, he was always there for his children and grandchildren, helping them in any way without complaint. Said his daughter, Brooke: “He was loving, kind and selfless.”

At his beloved St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, his home away from home, Brian served as a sub-deacon, chanter, and sacristan. His devotion and commitment to the church was so exemplary it had a profound effect on anyone who served with him.

His uncle, Ed Tanber, made him a Michigan fan early on. One of Brian’s great pleasures was attending games with his uncle and friends and, later, his son. The last game he attended was certainly one of his favorites – Michigan’s long-awaited victory over archrival Ohio State on Nov. 27.

In retirement Brian was happy spending more time with his family; traveling to northern Michigan where he loved to fish, canoe and tube; and working on antique cars and hot rods.

Surviving is his wife, Bernadette; daughters, Brooke [Andrew] Forche, and Bailey [Jacob] Armas; son, Brandon; sister, Karen [Scott] Lawrence; brother, Michael [John Lauth] Thabit; and grandchildren, Emma, Jack and Evan.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 18, from 3-8 p.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion prayer service will be held at 7. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Elias, where visitation will be held at 10 a.m. V. Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf will officiate the service.  Burial will be at St . Patrick’s Cemetery, Carleton , Mich.

The family asks that memorial contributions be to St. Elias.