WEDDING GUIDE Ron and
WEDDING GUIDE Ron and Vicki & Ron and Vicki: The Love Story of Two Couples BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO In 1969, fifteen-year-old Vicki Huckno met a nearly twenty-year-old Riadh Jabiro while he was working at his brother Harry’s party store near where she lived in Roseville. Riadh had been in America for about one year, having immigrated from Baghdad, Iraq. He spoke British English, as he was taught, so his accent was a little difficult to understand at first; however, Vicki was used to hearing other languages. Her family was Polish, and all four of her grandparents were also immigrants. Vicki had never heard of Chaldeans before, nor had she ever known anybody from Baghdad. She had heard of Iraq’s capital in history class and connected it to “flying carpets’’ from stories and movies but knew nothing else about it. She thought “Ron” was cute so when he asked her out on a date, she happily accepted. They went horseback riding, though neither of them had ever done that before, and that was the beginning of something much more substantial. Four years later, in 1973, the couple were wed at Vicki’s church, Sacred Heart in Roseville, one of the first Catholic churches on the east side. “I was just crazy about him, and he felt that same way,” recalled Vicki. The Chaldean community in metro Detroit was much smaller at that time and it was common for men to go “back home” to marry, returning to the U.S. with their Chaldean brides. That was not the case here. Ron introduced his family to Vicki, and they were very pleasant, she remembers. They were very nice and welcoming. They already had one “American” daughter-in-law and a few cousins who were also married to non-Chaldeans in the family. Ron’s dad spoke some English because he had worked in a hotel in Baghdad; his mother’s English was more limited. Vicki learned about the culture and could pick up a little conversational Sureth/Arabic, but she was not around them so much since the couple lived “far away” from Detroit in Sterling Heights - when there were virtually no Chaldeans there. Now, Sterling Heights has the highest population of Chaldeans in metro-Detroit. Vicki learned to make traditional rizza w’ maraka (rice and stew) and in recent years, burek (egg rolls) and takratha (meat pies). She remembers her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law would give them frozen goods, like potato chop and kibbee, and the leftovers of a family feast. “He was the baby of the family, so we got babied!” she laughed. “Someone was always giving us food!” Fast forward to 1985. Raad “Ron” Ankawi, Ron’s first cousin by the same Americanized name, meets a 24-year-old American woman in Greektown, Detroit. They go to dinner at Bazouki’s when it was a Middle Eastern restaurant with Arabic music and belly-dancing shows. Afterwards, they danced to Motown music at Scruples Nightclub nearby. Like Ron Jabiro, Ron Ankawi also had a slight accent and came from Top row: Ron and Vicki Ankawi Bottom row: Ron and Vicki Jabiro Baghdad. And like Vicki, the young woman had never heard of Chaldeans before, nor dated an immigrant. She had grown up in East Detroit and Clinton Township where there were no Chaldeans. In fact, she assumed Ron might be Greek since she met him in Greektown! He told her about his culture, and she was even more intrigued. Also, like Vicki– they shared the same first name! Ron introduced Vicki to his cousin and best friend, or more like brother, Ron Jabiro, and his wife Vicki, whom he considered a sister. The two couples bonded immediately. Just as the Rons were like brothers, the Vickis 26 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2022
Enjoy Healthy, Beautiful Skin Dr. Maria Yaldo is one of the Community’s most esteemed medical and procedural dermatologists. The Jabiros (left) and Ankawis are the best of friends. General & Surgical Dermatology (Pediatric, Adolescent & Adult) Treatment of common and complex conditions including psoriasis, acne, eczema Advanced Skin Cancer Treatment Total-Body Skin Cancer Exams SM & Mohs Micrographic Surgery Onsite became like sisters. Vicki met most of Ron’s siblings at a family wedding, but it was hard to talk because of the loud music blaring in the background. Nonetheless, they welcomed her in. “I felt very blessed to be a part of this warm and loving family,” Vicki said. The Ankawis got married in 1988 at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham and had a simple wedding of 100 people. She had two tables for her family and co-workers; the rest of the party was Ron’s large family. They had a DJ who played Arabic music, which Vicki grew to love. They were both divorced and had not received their annulments yet. Settling into married life, Vicki learned some basic conversational words from her mother-in-law but never really caught on to the language. What she did catch onto was her in-laws’ cooking. The rice and stews, kubba hamouth, dolma, and her sister-in-law’s baklava. They also taught her how to pick tarpih, or grape leaves, and freeze them. Her favorite food to make is tekratha (meat pies) because her husband says she makes it just like his mom. She taught Vicki J. how to make them, and in turn, Vicki J. taught her burek. As the Ankawi kids started going to catechism, Vicki decided to convert to Catholicism. “I wanted my whole family to be as one in the church,” she remarked. “I wanted to feel part of it.” The couple renewed their vows in 1992 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights. And the Jabiros were there for it. They were there for everything – raising the kids, vacations, holidays, retirement, and everything in between. The Jabiros were also there for the Ankawis when their 18-year-old son Craig died in a car accident over a decade ago. His sudden death affected both families very deeply. A few years ago, Vicki’s mother unexpectedly passed away before the two couples left for Europe. The Jabiros gave them comfort and peace as they grieved during what became their most memorable trip together. They all truly love one another. Nowadays, all in the foursome are retired. Ron Jabiro worked as Director of Manufacturing at an aerospace company for 30 years, and Vicki retired from property management. Their kids Brandon and Tammy have children of their own. Ron Ankawi retired from his business selling sports memorabilia and Vicki, a housewife, who along with her husband, raised five kids who are all grown now – Bryan, Krystal, Brett, Craig*, and Robyn. They are grandparents too. All of their children are still close. Ron and Vicki and Ron and Vicki are still inseparable. They cook dinner for each other and then play Scrabble where the competition gets fierce, they joked. They are gearing up for a trip to Arizona soon. Though both ladies married Chaldean men at a time when it was rare, they learned from each other and incorporated traditions as best they could to honor their families. After all, what does being Chaldean mean without family? * As mentioned in the article, Craig Ankawi passed away in 2010. Schedule Today! 248-353-0818 or AdvancedDerm.com 26400 W 12 Mile Rd, Ste 150 Southfield, MI 48034 All tobacco use can increase your risk for a number of oral health conditions. This includes e-cigarettes and smokeless (spit). Talk to your dentist about any tobacco use. Don’t let it affect your smile! Delta Dental of Michigan FEBRUARY 2022 CHALDEAN NEWS 27
