First Lady Nemat Aoun and prominent artists attended the wake in Adma for Tony Gerges Nehme, father of Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme, who died at age 74 as the family prepared for Saturday funeral services in Tannourine El Fawqa.
Tony Gerges Nehme passed away at the age of 74 following a battle with lung cancer according to regional reports. His death brought grief to the artistic community and to his children, the Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme and her brother, artist George Nehme.
Mourners Gather at Cathedral of Our Lady of Gifts in Adma
First Lady Nemat Aoun, wife of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, headed the list of public figures attending the services to offer support and sympathy to the family as relatives gathered inside the salon of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Gifts in the village of Adma, located in the Keserwan district of Mount Lebanon.
Artist Assi El Hallani and his son Al-Waleed arrived to stand alongside Abeer Nehme and her relatives during the wake. Composer Oussama Rahbani joined the gathering alongside public figures and artists from across Lebanon.
Father Guided Nine Children After War Injury
The late father served as the foundational musical influence for his nine children, having lost a leg during the Lebanese war yet maintaining a household filled with traditional music.
He first recognized Abeer’s talent when she was seven years old, encouraging her singing in church as her initial step toward an academic and professional career.
He guided her brother George, identifying his vocal tone in childhood and selecting specific songs by the late traditional master Wadih El Safi for his training. Abeer maintained her schedule, including appearances at the Jerash Festival 2026 and receiving recognition at the Murex D’or awards. George performed a major concert backed by an orchestra of more than 30 musicians at the Afamia Rotana hotel in Latakia.
Abeer Nehme Plans European Tour After Services
Abeer Nehme announced an upcoming European tour spanning from October to December 2026. The concert series begins in Germany at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg on October 31, moves to the Bozar theatre in Brussels on December 12, and concludes in the Netherlands at De Doelen in Rotterdam on December 13.
Prayers for the deceased take place at 3:00 PM on Saturday, followed by burial.
Mourners continue to visit the salon of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption before and after the burial until 6:00 PM. Condolences conclude on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with afternoon hours at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Gifts in Adma ahead of a memorial mass. The family requested that donations be made to the church in lieu of floral wreaths, following a life that began before the Lebanese war.
