Roughly 200 people gathered Friday morning to bid farewell to a store owner known for his generosity and compassion for his neighborhood.
Bassam Naoum, was shot six times last Saturday inside his store, Munchies Market, on Chicago's Near North Side. Police said Friday that there were no new leads in the case.
His family members said the outpouring of support from the community has been supportive, surprising and overwhelming.
"We were aware that he helped people, but we weren't aware to that extent. So it was shocking. It was surprising for us to find that out," said Noelle Naoum as visitation got underway Thursday at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero.
Mourners said the man affectionately known as "Ollie" was always the first to help a neighbor in need. They said it wasn't unusual for him to hand out toiletries and food, donating to after-school programs, sponsoring baseball games and even helping neighbors pay their overdue utility bills.
"The people coming out and showing their love to us is really helping us through this," said Noelle Naoum. "We don't want to focus on the last week. We want to focus on the last 59 years of his life and everything he's given to all of us."
A $1,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
Chicago Sun-Times Photos: Funeral for Bassam Naoum
