Mary Zebian

May 10, 1940 – June 4, 2026

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mary Zebian on June 4, 2026, at the age of 86.

Mary was born on May 10, 1940, in Collingwood, Nova Scotia, the daughter of Syrian immigrants Charlie (Sleiman) Abraham and Reta Abraham. One of five children, Mary was the oldest daughter in a hardworking family whose values would shape the course of her life.

Those who grew up in Collingwood will remember Mary as a young girl in the Charles Abraham Store, running through the aisles, helping her parents, selling Jonathan Logan dresses, and traveling with clothing to customers' homes in a time when personal service meant everything. From an early age, she learned the values of hard work, kindness, and dedication to others, values that would guide her throughout her life.

In 1967, Mary married Mike (Ibrahim) Zebian, who was born in Mdoukha, Lebanon. She joined him in Hantsport, Nova Scotia, where he operated a small clothing store. Together they built not only a successful business but a remarkable life. Through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to serving their customers, they expanded from Hantsport to Windsor and later to New Minas, becoming known for quality clothing, exceptional service, and the relationships they built with generations of customers. Mary was deeply involved in the family businesses, where she operated Mike’s Menswear and Nadia’s House of Fashion, and later joined her son at Phinney’s in Kentville, continuing her lifelong commitment to serving customers and the community.

As their family grew in Nova Scotia, Mary and Mike became a source of support and encouragement for relatives who followed them here, helping them establish themselves and creating opportunities for future generations. Many followed the example they set through their dedication to family, entrepreneurship, and community.

Mary was truly one of a kind. She wanted people to smile, laugh, and feel good about themselves, and she did everything in her power to make that happen. Her warmth was genuine, her generosity was quiet, and her kindness was limitless. She reached out to people in need, offered help without hesitation, and performed countless acts of compassion that her family may never fully know about because she never sought recognition and rarely spoke of them.

She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, and businesswoman, and in many ways a pioneer of her generation. She believed deeply in the value of hard work and lived that belief every day. Mary’s passion was work. She loved being involved, staying busy, and serving her customers and community. One of the lessons she passed on to her children and grandchildren was simple but enduring: work will not hurt you.

Mary was predeceased by her beloved husband, Mike (Ibrahim) Zebian.

She is survived by her daughter, Nadia, and her husband, Ahmad, and their children, Ali, Omar, and Mary; and by her son, Andrew, and his wife, Mariam, and their children, Dalia, Nadia, Ibrahim, and Amir. She is also survived by her siblings, Joe Abraham, Helen Abraham, Zickey Abraham and his wife, Najah, and Ruby Abraham; by her brother-in-law, Joe Zebian and his wife, Emma; by her sister-in-law, Mariam Assaff; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends.

Nothing brought Mary greater joy than spending time with her grandchildren. She cherished every moment with them and took great pride in watching them grow. Whether sharing a meal, telling stories, offering advice, or simply enjoying their company, she treasured her role as a grandmother.

Her son, Andrew Zebian, Mayor of Kentville, has often reflected on the values his mother passed on to him: hard work, compassion, humility, perseverance, and a commitment to serving others. Those same values were the foundation of Mary’s life and continue to guide her family today.

Mary’s legacy lives on in her family, in the businesses she helped build, in the community she served, and in the countless lives she touched through her kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in people. She will be remembered for her warm smile, her welcoming spirit, her strong work ethic, and her ability to make others feel valued.

She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.