Elias Karim Sayad

Elias Karim Sayad, age 95, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 19, 2019 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Elias was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria and was one of seven children to Karim and Gemela Sayad.  When Elias was a young man of twenty-eight years, he immigrated to the United States in search of a better life and the “American Dream”.  Upon arriving in the United States, Elias settled in Utica, NY and then moved to Brooklyn soon after. While living in Brooklyn, Elias found work quickly as a Quilting Machine Operator.  Elias would hold this position for the next ten years. Then, in 1963, Elias started his own company based out of Brooklyn called Asiatic Hosiery Company. Elias, as the owner and president of his own company, nurtured and grew the business for the next twenty-six years until his retirement in 1988.  Through the years, as a business owner, he employed many people that immigrated to the United States and helped many family members immigrate here as well. Those immigrating to the US that he couldn’t employ, he assisted in finding jobs.

In early 1960, Elias met an attractive young woman by the name of Mary Orfaly.  Elias and Mary fell deeply in love, enjoyed a romantic courtship and were married on July 21, 1961. The couple settled in Brooklyn after they were first married, and while living there, they welcomed the births of all three of their children, Mary Lou, Louis, and Judy.  As Elias’ family grew, they moved to North Carolina for a time, Totowa, NJ, then lived in Wanaque. Elias and Mary then moved to Wayne in 2011 and have resided there ever since. Elias and Mary were parishioners of St. Ann’s Melkite Catholic Church in Woodland Park for many years and were also parishioners of Virgin Mary Melkite Church in Brooklyn prior to moving to New Jersey.

Elias had an outstanding work ethic, generous heart, and truly enjoyed being a business owner. He welcomed the many challenges that are associated with being a success.  Growing his business was something that Elias was very dedicated to. He also enjoyed baseball, particularly after his son started playing as a youngster. He and his wife Mary also enjoyed traveling together over the years.  Among Elias’s talents and interests were playing cards, solving math problems, working in his garden, and being the first one on the dance floor at a party. However, his greatest passion was for his family. Nothing in the world meant more to Elias than spending time with and providing for his family.  Elias was a truly devoted husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife Mary cherished fifty-eight years of loving and loyal marriage together. Elias was always good company and a pleasure to be with. He was extremely social but also outspoken, he was always honest and you always knew where you stood with him.  Elias was a special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Elias is survived by his wife Mary (nee Orfaly) of Wayne, two daughters; Mary Lou De Caprio and her husband Vincent of Mountain Lakes, and Judy Swetlitschnyj and her husband Vladimir of Totowa, one son Louis Sayad and his wife Kathleen of Wayne and  and eleven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sisters Olga Sayad, Mary Altongy, Antoinette Esper and three brothers George Sayad, Joseph Sayad, and Edouard Sayad.

Donations in Elias's name may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.  http://www.stjude.org