Obituary of Mamdouh Abou-Youssef, DVM

Dr. Mamdouh H. Abou-Youssef, DVM, PhD Age 75, passed away on Friday, February 27, 2015 at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet with his loving family by his side. His death was due to multiple myeloma and its complications (diagnosed Aug. 2011). Born December 4, 1939 in El-Minya, Egypt, Mamdouh (known to many of his clients as Doctor Youssef or simply Doc) received his veterinary medicine degree from the University of Cairo in 1963 and afterwards worked at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization in Egypt. In 1967 Mamdouh came to the USA to begin a sabbatical and earned a Master's Degree and PhD in veterinary medical science at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he met his wife, Karen DeNardo, of Joliet (married 1977). After working in Ohio for a veterinary research company, he began clinical work in the Joliet area including employment at Animal Medical Clinic with Dr. Terry Messamore, DVM, from 1983 to 1987. Mamdouh opened Essington Road Animal Hospital in 1987 and received much satisfaction from caring medically for dogs and cats and emotionally for their owners. While Mamdouh enjoyed his work at this clinic, his first love was always his family. He cared for his family with the utmost devotion. He also enjoyed fixing broken things in his own way and surprising people with his special sense of humor. Words cannot express how much he appreciated all the kindness and comfort he received from his extended family and friends through the years. Mamdouh was preceded in death by his father, Hussein Abou-Youssef; his mother, Fardous El-Nashar; brothers, Mohamed and Mustafa; sister, Wedad; and wife's father and mother, Phil DeNardo and Abby Wielgosz Foreman DeNardo. He is survived in USA by his wife, Karen DeNardo; son, Dr. Adam Abou-Youssef; daughter, Amirrah Abou-Youssef (fiancé Dan Foreman); and sister-in-law, Judy DeNardo. Surviving in Egypt are brothers, Mourad and Magdy; sisters, Soriya, Safaa, Hoda, and Ilham; and numerous nieces and nephews. A service for Mamdouh will be held Saturday, March 14, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet. Everyone is welcome, and a celebration of his life will begin at 3:30 p.m. Private burial and Islamic funeral rites were held at Woodlawn Memorial Park on March 2, 2015. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name to Morning Star Mission would be appreciated. For information: (815) 741-5500