Thomas "Tom" or "Tommy" James Arouni, 82, of Philadelphia, PA, passed away, Monday, March 14, 2016 at his home at Chapel Manor Care Center.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held at 12:00 noon, Friday, March 25 at BURNS FUNERAL HOME, 1428 E. Columbia Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125. Burial will follow at Beechwood Cemetery, Bensalem, PA. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Visiting Angels Nursing Home Ministries, 6445 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. Those wishing to sign Tom's guestbook may do so at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/philly/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-j-arouni&pid=178136405&fhid=4468

Tom was born in St. Paul Minnesota June 19, 1933. He attended St. Thomas Academy for High School and University of St. Thomas, both in St. Paul; attended the Art Students League in New York City; and did graduate work at Columbia University, also in New York City. He worked with the underprivileged in the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for several decades.

Tom will be deeply missed by many, particularly his children Joseph and his wife Phebe and Mary and her husband Thomas; his grandchildren Joshua and Hannah; his nephew James (Sam) Arouni; his nieces Mary Porto, Martha Arouni and Amy Arouni Peltz and her husband Ray; and a wonderful circle of close and loyal friends, many he knew from his early childhood in St. Paul, MN. Tom was predeceased by his wife Helen.

Tom was an extremely gifted and talented artist, a very capable chess player, an accomplished student of the Spanish language, an avid reader about the American Civil War, and was known to have an excellent sense of humor and a warm personality, and loved cats. He was greatly loved by his family and friends.

Tom was a devoted Catholic for his entire life and for the last two years of his life regularly attended Christian services at Chapel Manor conducted by Pastors Roby, Sam and George from Visiting Angels Nursing Home Ministries who ministered to him the Gospel of Christ. We recognize the deep significance of the day of his funeral and we know this day was very meaningful to Tom during his life.
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"Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am , there ye may be also." John 14:1-3