Our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Myra “Lynne” Khatib, 88, passed on to eternal life in the early morning hours of October 29, 2026, while in the warmth and comfort of her own home with her children beside her.

Lynne is survived by her children, Borhan (Ruth), Rayad (Carolyn), Amyra (Jerry) Smerecky, Aref (Lama) and Omar (Kathleen); her grandchildren, Aziza (Tom) Keleher, Warren, Hanna, Bradley (Paola), Muhammad, Laila, Amina, Haadi and Yazan and her great-grandchildren, Travis Wallin, Derrick Wallin, Finn Keleher and Dalia, as well as her siblings, Martha Garey, Nita Davis, Carla Al-Janabi and Jere Jo Burgette.

Lynne was preceded in death by her dear husband, Nasuh, her parents, Reverend Merlin and Mary Burgette and her eldest brother, Robert.

During the fall of 1957, Lynne met and fell for her dear husband, Nasuh. They were wed in 1958 at New Haven Methodist Church by her father, Reverend Burgette who customized their ceremony to blend their Muslim and Methodist faiths. God and family always came first for each of them.

The happy couple started their married life together in Indiana and traveled to Syria with their eldest son, Borhan, when Lynne was eight months pregnant with her second son, Rayad, who was born on her birthday in Damascus. Lynne was fascinated by and fully embraced Syrian culture. She learned to speak Arabic fluently. After Lynne and Nasuh returned to the United States, she always welcomed relatives from Syria and took pride in preparing Syrian dishes that she learned to make while there.

After following the Mississippi River on a romantic getaway, Nasuh and Lynne fell in love with Jo Daviess County and made Scales Mound their second home in 1979, which is where they settled in retirement. During the early years at the farm, they fostered two injured teen refugees of the Lebanese Civil War, Samir and Sayeed. Lynne treated them as her own children and took charge of their medical care, ensuring that they returned to their families with needed prosthetics.

Lynne was above all a nurturer. Her life revolved around caring for others and bringing loved ones together. Once her children became more independent, she worked in social services, helping families in need, with a range of hardships such as dealing with blindness or cancer. She spread her love among everyone she encountered.

Throughout her life, Lynne exemplified her focus on peace, love and joy!

A private family service will be held to honor Lynne at Greenwood Cemetery in Galena, IL.

The Miller-Steinke Funeral Home of Scales Mound, IL assisted the family