Funeral Services Set For Cabrini-Green Shopkeeper
CHICAGO (CBS) - Visitation and memorial services are scheduled for later this week for Bassam "Ollie" Naoum, the Cabrini-Green area shopkeeper who was shot and killed in his convenience store over the weekend.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, and funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, at 1220 S. 60th Ct. in Cicero.
Flowers can be sent to the church, or in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Thanksgiving Dinner fund at Union Missionary Baptist Church, 940 N. Orleans St., Chicago IL 60610.
Naoum was shot and killed Saturday night at his store, Munchies Market, at 950 N. Orleans St.
He worked in the Cabrini-Green community for many years at his two stores – Munchies, and Ollie's Foods a few blocks away at 1012 N. Larrabee St. His wife, Phoebe Naoum, said for decades, her husband chose to work near Cabrini-Green because he wanted to help the community.
"This was his life. He spent so much time here and I, you know, nothing will bring him back but this will make us warm memories for the rest of our lives," Phoebe Naoum said Monday.
Those who came to his shops regularly and got to know him came to love him like a father figure.
Police say they are talking to several people, but no suspects are in custody. They say there is a surveillance tape, and on that tape, three people are seen leaving the store shortly after the murder. It is hoped that the tape will lead to an arrest.
