Dbayeh town bid farewell on Friday its son, Joseph Melhem Chelala (brother of the Presidential Adviser and Director of the Presidency Press Office, Rafic Chelala), in a solemn funeral presided over by the representative of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi.

The funeral service was held this afternoon in the Church of Ascension - Dbayeh, in the presence of the representative of the President of the Republic General Michel Aoun, Minister of National Defense Maurice Sleem, the representative of the Speaker of Parliament  Nabih Berri, MP Hagop Pakradounian, representative of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Minister of Education Abbas Halabi, Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar, Minister of Industry Georges Boujikian, representative of Saad Hariri Charbel Zouein, MP Eddy Maalouf, Director General of the Presidency of the Republic Dr. Antoine Choucair, Brigadier General Elias El Khoury, representative of the Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, Brigadier General P.S.C. Antoine Francis, Commander of the Republican Guard Brigade Brigadier General Bassam El Helou, on the head of a delegation of brigade officers, current and former MPs and ministers, official, political, military, security, and social figures, and the family of the deceased, in addition to people who knew and loved the deceased, who was for many years an active member in the municipality of Dbayeh - Zouk Al Kharab - Awkar - Haret Al Ballane. 

The Patriarchal Vicar of the Maronite Archdiocese of Sarba, Archbishop Boulos Rouhana, represented Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rahi, and was assisted by the Maronite Archdiocese of Zahle Archbishop Joseph Moawad, and the Maronite Archdiocese of Antelias Archbishop Antoine Bou Najm, and a number of monks, priests, and nuns. 

The family of the deceased then accepted condolences, as the former President of the Republic, General Michel Sleiman, and a number of current and former ministers and MPs attended.