<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?> <rss xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" version="2.0"> <channel> <description>Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home provides online obituaries, funeral notices, condolences, tributes and death notices - powered by the national CurrentObituary.com database.</description> <item> <description> Besnilian, Khatoun (Chakmakian) of Watertown, April 28, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Hovsep Besnilian. Devoted mother of Vartouhie Minassian and her husband Garo, Sarkis Besnilian and his wife Seta, Silva Bedrossian and her husband Avedis, Carmen Barmakian and her husband Avedis and Barkev Besnilian and his wife Arpy. Also survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. Sister of the late Mary Boyajian and the late Hripsime Avakian. Funeral service at Saint Stephen s Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Tuesday, May 5 at 12 noon. Visiting hours will be held at church on Tuesday morning from 11  12 noon, immediately prior to the funeral service. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen s Armenian Church, Saint Stephen s Armenian Elementary School, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472, Homenetmen of Greater Boston, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472 or Saint Stephen s Armenian Saturday School. Interment at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/0a6afc45942e4db89e55c03ba8836c6e.jpg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/300217</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8058465Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Khatoun Besnilian&lt;br/&gt;Apr 28, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description>Jeanette M. Assarian of Billerica, formerly of Arlington, MA passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on April 25, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Helen (Takvorian) Ayanian. Jeanette was the beloved wife of the late Vernon Assarian and the devoted mother of Robert and his wife Mivi, Richard and his wife Kerry, David and his wife Kelly, and Jeffrey and his wife Ginny. She was the cherished grandmother of Ryan, Derek, Kevin, Jason, Kendall, Avery, Zander, Justin, Alia, and DJ. She was the sister of the late Eleanor Kostandin. Born on December 18, 1940, Jeanette grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts. She later graduated from San Francisco State University and began her career as a first-grade teacher. In time, she embraced her most important role as a full-time wife and mother, guiding her family with strength, love, and devotion after the sudden passing of her husband, Vernon, in 1992. She found great joy in cooking and baking, especially preparing Armenian dishes and desserts that she generously shared with family and friends. Her spinach borek (Armenian spinach &amp; cheese turnovers) and scratch-made apple pie were family favorites. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, gardening, and taking walks while playing fetch with her golden retriever, Kasey. Each August, Jeanette spent several weeks at her summer home in Gloucester, a place that held a special place in her heart and became a source of many cherished family memories. There, she enjoyed the ocean views of Bass Rocks and long, relaxing days at Good Harbor Beach surrounded by family and friends. Jeanette will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and dedication to her family. She will be missed by all who knew her. Funeral services will be held at Saint James Armenian Church, 465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Friday, May 1st at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at church on Friday morning from 10:00  11:00 am, immediately prior to the funeral service. Burial at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jeanette s memory to Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue: &lt;a href=https://ygrr.org/donate-in-honor-in-memory/ target="new"&gt;&lt;b&gt;ygrr.org/&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/497a750cd279417ba021b7029edd1573.jpg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/300184</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8058465Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Jeanette Assarian&lt;br/&gt;Apr 25, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description>Stephanian, Julia (Nahabedian) of Lexington, formerly of Concord and Belmont, April 25, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Thomas Stephanian. Devoted mother of Thomas Stephanian and his wife Setta, Dora Daly and her late husband Jack and Lisa Burton and her husband Richard Boudreau. Cherished grandmother of Taylor Fleming and her husband Brent, Westleigh Stephanian, David Manghis and his wife Sarah, Julia Cibotti and her husband Benjamin, Jordan Burton, Ian Burton, and Rory Burton. Also survived by 6 great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. Sister of the late Kevork and Levon Nahabedian. Funeral service at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge on Wednesday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at church on Wednesday morning from 10:00  11:00 am, immediately prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Church. Burial at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street, Newton, MA. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/150e15339ca1490c9bd57dadd150a511.jpg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/300176</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8058465Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Julia Stephanian&lt;br/&gt;Apr 25, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description>Alexander, Dr. Robert Gregory, 80, of Winchester, MA, formerly of Medford, MA, passed suddenly on April 16, 2026. Beloved son of the late Robert and Lucy (Sarkisian) Alexander. Loving brother of John (Suzanne), Richard, James, Carol, and Gary (Tania) Alexander. Pre-deceased by his brother, Steven Alexander. Brother-in-law of Christina and Jon Grain. Devoted husband of Teresa (Daloian) Alexander and loving father of daughter, Karole Alexander and son, Robert G. Alexander, III and his wife, Mollie McLaughlin. He also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Bob lived a wonderful life, with a large extended family and a fulfilling career. He served the community of Stoneham, MA and surrounding towns as an ophthalmologist and surgeon for nearly 40 years. Among his many interests were Boston sports teams (Go Terriers!!) and supporting his alma maters: Matignon High School and Boston University. He worked as a caddy in his youth, which sparked a life-long passion for golf. After graduating from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree, he pursued a brief career in radio and television as a sports reporter. He returned to academia, earning a Master of Public Health degree at Yale University and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1974 at the Boston University School of Medicine. He will be dearly missed by family and friends. Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, April 23, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home. Funeral services will take place on Friday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. at Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund (Ouimet.org) or First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA 02478 (FACBelmont.org). </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/12d419f6feef450cacef42e2ed184345.jpg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/300061</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8058465Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Dr. Robert Gregory Alexander&lt;br/&gt;Apr 16, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description> Hazerjian, Margaret (Barsamian) of West Roxbury, age 91, April 13, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Kevork (George) Hazerjian, to whom she was married 50 years. Devoted mother of Maryanne Borzakian and her husband Robert, Margaret Markarian and her husband Richard, George G. Hazerjian and Michael Hazerjian. Loving grandmother of Rebecca and Peter Markarian, and Jeremy and Joshua Hazerjian. Sister of the late Catherine Krikorian. Former mother-in-law of Cynthia Hazerjian. Sister-in-law of Lucy Hazerjian and her late husband Jack. Also sister-in-law to the late Minas and Doris Hazerjian, Marion and James Ashjian, and Moey Krikorian. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and dear family friends. Funeral services at Saint Stephen s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Tuesday, April 21 at 12 noon. Visiting hours will be held at church on Tuesday morning from 11am  12 noon, immediately prior to the funeral service. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the above-named church. Interment at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Margaret  Peggy Hazerjian was a lifelong resident of Boston. Born in 1934, Peggy was the proud daughter of Armenian immigrant parents, Sarkis and Maritza Barsamian. She grew up with her older sister  Kay on a small, narrow street in the South End in a tight-knit community of Armenian, Syrian, and Lebanese families. In fact, the street was so narrow that a neighbor across the way could easily  babysit from an open window on the other side of the street. Education was very important in the Barsamian household, and Peggy excelled in school  she was an avid reader, enjoyed reciting poems, and cherished being gifted her very own set of encyclopedias. She was a top graduate of both Girls High School (1952) and Boston State Teachers College (1956). During her teen years when her pharmacist father opened his own drug store in South Boston, the family moved to Andrew Square. From then on, Peggy could often be found after school and on weekends with her sister Kay welcoming customers into Vale Drug Store, ringing orders at the register, and scooping ice cream or making milk shakes behind the counter. The move to South Boston also led to Peggy joining the South Boston chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), where she made girlfriends who remained dear for the rest of her life. It s also where Peggy caught the eye of her future husband George P. Hazerjian. Indeed, when 21-year-old George saw a picture of 16-year-old Peggy, the chairperson of the chapter s education committee, holding a recently won trophy, he was smitten. He asked,  Who s that girl holding the trophy? and wondered,  How could there possibly be an Armenian girl from South Boston I don t know? Thus began, George s persistent 5-year effort to win his beloved  Margaret over -- she did not make it easy for him. Initially thinking him a bit too old and too serious, she evaded him by hiding behind poles at Armenian dances, asking family members to say she was at the library or washing her hair when he called, and having her mother answer the door when he came by with flowers. These actions only made young George more determined. And ultimately, Peggy came to appreciate George s sincere ardor and invited him to a formal college dance during her junior year. Soon enough, the two of them were in love, engaged, and married in August of 1956. They enjoyed a long, loving, and devoted 50-year marriage that produced two daughters, Maryanne and Margie, and two sons, George and Michael. In 2006, they were both thrilled and honored to be guests at Boston Mayor Menino s Golden Anniversary Party at the Parker House for Boston couples who reached the 50-year milestone. During the early years of her marriage, Peggy lived in a triple decker in Uphams Corner, Dorchester, within close proximity to the Hazerjian clan, as well as her own parents and sister s family in South Boston. Here, Peggy became  Mom to two little girls, as well as  Aunty Peggy to a spurt of wonderful nieces and nephews -- there was Arleen and Gary upstairs. Jack, Stephanie, George, and Aram across the street, with Amy a number of years later. Stephen, David, and LuAnn a few streets over. Linda, Cathy, Mary, and Eddy on Dorchester Avenue in South Boston. These years also marked the start of Peggy s long and illustrious reign as a warm, gracious, organized, and tireless hostess of birthday parties, christenings, holiday meals, and other special events, where the food was delicious, plentiful, and made with love. Her hostess extraordinaire skills continued to expand when George surprised Peggy with the purchase of a storybook brick English Tudor-style home in West Roxbury, where she lived happily for 65 years until her passing. No matter where Peggy lived, she made lifetime friends easily and West Roxbury was no exception. Her friendship with neighbor Mary Costello began almost immediately, when Mary, a young mother with newborn twins and three young kids ages 2, 4, &amp; 6 years, invited  Peg to bring her little girls, ages, 2 &amp; 4 years, over to play and have a cup of coffee. Thus began, countless coffee hours in each other s kitchens, at Pewter Pot, and Friendly s. Peggy s life story cannot be told without mentioning her love of coffee. Her passion for coffee started young when she relished the task of helping her mother Maritza prepare Armenian coffee for her friends. Those first little sips when ladies came to visit turned into mug-upon-mug of coffee long before Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks became the rage. In fact, it s unlikely that anyone could have possibly gone through more Mr. Coffee Machines than Peggy. She was an early adopter of the Mr. Coffee Machine when it was invented in 1972. At last count, there were no less than 15  old Mr. Coffee pots on the shelves in the basement in West Roxbury. She always wanted to have an old pot on hand just in case the current pot broke. And although we re not quite sure how many Mr. Coffee machines she went through over the past 54 years, you can be sure when the Mr. Coffee machine was on the fritz this past October while she was recuperating from a pelvic fracture, an immediate trip to Target was needed to replace it. And up until only a few days before her passing, Peggy s passion for coffee never waned. When daughter May lovingly spooned her sips of coffee or a coffee shake, Peggy would show her appreciation with a nod or softly spoken,  That was wonderful! Peggy s West Roxbury years yielded the completion of the family with the arrival of two boys, George and Michael in 1964 and 1965. A busy homemaker with a husband who ran a business, was in sales, and often traveled, Peggy was organized, efficient, and seemingly tireless. She was a wonderful mother who made getting supper on the table at 6:00, buying and wrapping birthday presents, and decorating the house for every holiday look easy. Somehow, she also managed to be involved with cub scouts, PTA, a library book discussion group, check homework, pack lunches, and drive kids to little league fields, Armenian school, Sunday School, AYF meetings, high school dances, and more. But she also gave her kids the freedom to roam  never doubting their ability to navigate the MBTA system, walk or bike to and from Centre Street to go to the library, shop at Dixon s five-and-ten store, or get to their part-time jobs at Decelle s and Fish Hut. These busy years in the West Roxbury neighborhood did not lessen Peggy s involvement in the Armenian community. For years, she chaired a booth for the St. Stephen s Church Bazaar, utilized her teaching skills as a Sunday School teacher, and went on put her management expertise to work as co-director of St. Stephen s Sunday School, a job she held for about 10 years along with her good friend Mona Talanian. And of course, with husband George, who served on the church s Board of Trustees, Peggy relaxed and enjoyed the companionship of her many, many Armenian friends at Couple s Club events. As if West Roxbury, the church community in Watertown, four growing children, and a hard-working husband weren t enough to keep track of, Peggy s life and connections grew even more expansive with the purchase of a summer home near Old Silver Beach in North Falmouth. It s on the shores of Old Silver that Peggy truly relaxed, typically with a thermos of HOT coffee nearby, along with a mix of old and new friends. With a husband who frequently invited people to  drop in or  come on down, Peggy always had to be prepared for guests. She consistently rose to the occasion, shopping for and loading/unloading an abundance of grocery bags in her red station wagon, toting them into the house, and making batches of food for her family and guests, both expected and unexpected. Almost everyone who knew Peggy during the Old Silver Beach years, recalls the fun and excitement of Fourth of July celebrations at Hye Point. The high point of these annual events arrived when Peggy, dressed in red, white and blue, carried her famous flag-decorated Jello cake in a mini-parade around the dining room table singing  You re a Grand Old Flag. As her children grew, Peggy warmly welcomed her sons-in-law, Richard Markarian and Robert Borzakian, and former daughter-in-law Cindy, to the family table, and absolutely basked  in the glory of becoming a Nanny to her four grandchildren  Rebecca, Peter, Jeremy, and Joshua. All four loved being in her presence and looked forward to the easy chit-chat, candy and treats in the snack drawer, chocolate bundt cake from Roche Brothers on the counter, holiday festivities, rounds of I-Spy-With-My-Little-Eye, and the treasure trove of toys, board and video games they could play when visiting their Nanny and Papa in West Roxbury. Peggy was often amazed that even through their teen years, Rebecca and Peter wanted to spend their New Year s Eve at her house  a true testament to how much they enjoyed their Nanny s company. Jeremy and Joshua were equally pleased to have their Nanny stay overnight every other Saturday night for much of their young life while their dad worked his night shift. They could count on her for great snacks, funny conversations with their dog Biji, and permission to stay up later than they were supposed to! She was proud to be able to attend all four high school graduations, as well as two college graduations. The pandemic and frailty were the only things stopping her from the final two college graduations. Through it all, she very much thrived on the joy their companionship, phone calls, vitality, and entertaining stories brought to her life as she aged. Most certainly, Peggy was a devoted wife and cherished mother. Once the children were grown, she worked side-by-side with her husband as a receptionist at Sturdy Lantern Manufacturing Company in North Attleboro and Franklin. When George s health declined, she tended to his well-being with the utmost concern and care. After his passing 19 years ago, Peggy maintained an independent lifestyle to the degree possible. She attended church services regularly, enjoyed the coffee hours that followed, and made new friends, renewed old acquaintances. She participated in Christian Fellowship meetings at area Armenian churches monthly. She did crosswords, read novels, loved going to Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts, and watching the Boston Red Sox. She went to St. Patrick s Day lunches and Bingo events with West Roxbury seniors. And even though Peggy struggled a bit during her declining years and especially these past few months, she lived her life with great dignity, grace, resilience, and fortitude, always welcoming visitors, encouraging them to help themselves to a bite to eat, and enjoying quiet conversations, episodes of the Golden Girls, a mix of country songs and 50s crooners, or home movies and photos from days gone by. If just a few words could exemplify the type of person Peggy was, top on the list would be devoted, gracious, thoughtful, warm, and gentle. She made and kept friends because she was easy to be with  both a good listener and a good conversationalist. She was practical, smart, and wise but careful not to impose, intrude, hurt feelings or offer an unsolicited opinion. She was a quiet, comforting, and patient presence when her children or husband needed it. Her husband George often praised her as being  one wing away from an angel. And now upon her passing on April 13, the exact same day as her beloved George 19 years ago, we d like to think she earned that second wing. May our dear Mother, Peggy, Nanny, Auntie, Sister-In-Law, Friend, and Neighbor rest in peace reunited with her beloved in a now complete a circle of eternal love. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/96f9466ddf384e258774eb06fe3aed5f.jpeg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/299986</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8058465Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Margaret Hazerjian&lt;br/&gt;Apr 13, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description>EDWARD MESROBIAN, 101, OF WALTHAM, MA, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON APRIL 8, 2026, SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVING FAMILY. BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE LATE JULIE (JULIENNE TOULOUKIAN). DEVOTED FATHER OF JANET MESROBIAN AND HER HUSBAND JOHN MORONEY, AND ELLEN TUFANKJIAN AND HER HUSBAND GREG. ED WAS THE LOVING GRANDFATHER OF MORGAN AND ALEXANDER MORONEY AND MATTHEW AND MICHAEL TUFANKJIAN. BORN IN NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS ON AUGUST 17, 1924, ED WAS THE SON OF THE LATE SETRAK AND LATE ARAKSI MESROBIAN, BOTH SURVIVORS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. HE WAS THE LOVING BROTHER OF THE LATE ARMEN MESROBIAN, AND COUSIN TO THE LATE ISABEL TALANIAN AND ZAVEN KALPAKDJIAN, WHOM HE CONSIDERED HIS DEAR SISTER AND BROTHER. ED BUILT A CAREER AND BUSINESS AS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FASHION DESIGNER AND MANUFACTURER OF HIGH-END WOMENSWEAR, UNDER HIS OWN LABEL, EDWARD MESROBIAN INC. HIS DRESSES WERE WORN BY FIRST LADIES AND MANY CELEBRATED WOMEN. ED SERVED DURING WORLD WAR II IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. DURING HIS LIFETIME, HE WAS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN CAUSES INCLUDING SERVICE ON THE ST. JAMES PARISH COUNCIL, THE ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION, AND THE COUNCIL OF ARMENIAN EXECUTIVES. IN ADDITION TO HIS COMPASSION FOR OTHERS, ED WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS CHARM, KEEN WIT, AND SENSE OF HUMOR, ALWAYS QUICK WITH A JOKE AND TO MAKE OTHERS SMILE. ED ENJOYED NOTHING BETTER THAN SPENDING TIME WITH HIS CHERISHED WIFE JULIE, THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY ON MARTHA S VINEYARD AND ON MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA. FUNERAL SERVICE AT SAINT JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH, 465 MOUNT AUBURN STREET, WATERTOWN ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16, AT 11:30 A.M. RELATIVES AND FRIENDS ARE KINDLY INVITED TO ATTEND. VISITING HOURS WILL BE HELD AT SAINT JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16, FROM 10:00 - 11:30, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FUNERAL SERVICE. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO SAINT JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH. INTERMENT AT MOUNT FEAKE CEMETERY, 203 PROSPECT STREET, WALTHAM. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/6073ae3c6d0f436bbe67878c73f7f95a.jpg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/299841</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8214045Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Edward Mesrobian&lt;br/&gt;Apr 08, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description>Peter Balgochian, Jr., originally of Dorchester, Mass., passed away March 28, 2026 at the age of 90½. Peter was the middle child of Peter and Maritza (Moosessian) Balgochian, flanked by elder sister Elizabeth (d. 2020) and younger brother Albey. As a boy, Peter worked in the family variety store, but enjoyed school and often reminisced about his Boston Latin School days. At 17, Peter went to the BLS Valentine s Day dance with a girl named MaryAnn; and his friend Greg went with a girl named Sophie Bazarian from Watertown. Long story short: Peter married Sophie and Greg married MaryAnn, and the four of them remained friends for the rest of their lives. After two years of taking a train and two trolleys from Field s Corner to Watertown to see Sophie, they married at St. James on April 8, 1956 in a double wedding with Peter s sister and Sophie s brother Aram. They lived in Watertown, and Peter obtained an Electrical Engineering degree at Tufts University before being inducted into the Army as a radio operator in July 1957. Not yet 21 years old, Peter and Sophie moved to Germany and lived in a  cozy attic apartment with a twin bed and the bathtub in the kitchen. For the rest of their lives, they would regale family with happy memories from that time. They returned to Mass. in 1959 and bought their first home in Marlboro before Peter was recalled by the Army in 1961 for another year of service stateside as Radio Operator Specialist and Head Baker. After the Army, Peter earned a B.S. in Industrial Technology and worked days while earning an M.B.A. from Northeastern University. In 1964, Peter and Sophie moved to Waltham where they welcomed their first child, Peter III, followed by daughter Mardi in an undisclosed year (ha!). Peter worked in engineering, missile systems and weapons testing at Sylvania, Avco Missile Systems and Raytheon; and owned PlyGems Lumber (Waltham) while Sophie owned the Red Lion gift shop (Burlington). In 1973, Peter took a job with Xerox, and the family moved to California, then Texas, then back to California where he retired in 1994 at age 57. It was then he found his favorite role: playing Tevya in the St. Peter s Armenian Apostolic Church production of Fiddler on the Roof, which he played with gusto to sold-out crowds. He sung those songs the rest of his life. During the past three decades, Peter and Sophie ( JoAnne on the West coast) lived predominantly in Westlake Village (CA); Las Vegas (where he was a blackjack dealer); Palm Coast (FL), their favorite; and Indio and Northridge (CA). During those years, they were heavily involved in the churches to which they belonged, him on parish councils and her on ladies guilds. They carpooled to work, entertained, enjoyed beaches, traveled, laughed like hyenas during poker nights and family gatherings, loved their children, and planted roses and tulips wherever they lived. When Mardi and husband Paul moved to Watertown in 2021, Peter and Sophie (both then 85) moved to nearby Lexington and, although aghast to end up back where they started (not to mention the cold weather), they relished being near family again (especially for holidays, weddings and new babies!), and rekindling enduring friendships. Sophie passed away in Nov. 2023; April 8, 2026 would have been their 70th anniversary, which they now celebrate together again. What started as someone else s date at a high school dance became a remarkable life filled with love, faith, patience, resilience, kids, family, friends and a mutual love of lehmajun (and a remarkable amount of  stuff considering the number of times they moved). They are survived by son Peter III, wife Karen and only grandchild Katarina in Arizona; daughter Mardi and husband Paul Santos (known as  the favorite ); Peter s brother Albey, sister-in-law Jane and nephew Miles; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, greats and great-greats. May you all continue to tell their stories, hear their laughter, and remember them and their endless love for you. Visitation will be Monday, April 6, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472. Funeral, Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 a.m. at St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472; followed by interment at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Highland Ave. at Stuart St., Watertown, MA 02472. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint James Armenian Church for upkeep of the lift so no other elderly person is prevented from attending Church. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/63325112b4a146cca9ee6cf9d88bfffc.JPEG" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/299630</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8214045Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Peter Balgochian Jr.&lt;br/&gt;Mar 28, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description> Stephen Avakian was a passionate and generous man who was deeply devoted to his family and made a significant impact on government, communities, and education. He engaged easily and joyfully with everyone. A former journalist, he said,  Everyone is a feature story. He died on March 26 from complications of Parkinson s Disease. He was 80 years old. Born in New York City, he was the only child of Yervant and Acabie Avakian, Armenian immigrants. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Laura McClary Avakian, and Matthew Hollingshead, who they have viewed as their son, along with Matt s wife Lauren and sons Andrew and Kyle. He received a B.S. degree from the College of Wooster in Ohio where he was editor of the school paper, and a Masters in journalism from Northwestern University. He served as a member of the Ohio Army National Guard. Steve started his career as a reporter for The Cleveland Press, snagging a front page by-line just a month into the job for covering a riot in the city. He left reporting to work on the campaign of Howard Metzenbaum in his first run for U.S. Senator. After Metzenbaum lost, Steve had roles with the Sun Newspaper chain, and as an aide to the Cuyahoga County Commissioners, and briefly did press forc Senator Ed Muskie. In 1973 he joined John Glenn s victorious campaign for U.S. Senate as his personal aide. Steve went to Washington with him as press secretary. He later returned to Ohio to manage the re-election campaign and scored a record-breaking win of 1.6 million votes over Glenn s opponent. Steve then started his own consulting firm. He worked on candidate campaigns but became a specialist in providing public relations and levy support to school districts and other municipal services. He also served as a school committee member in Hull, MA and was heavily involved in a variety of community projects. A man of many interests, he loved politics, baseball and everything about trains. He owned thoroughbred horses and invested in real estate and radio stations. He and Laura traveled extensively. In addition to Laura and Matt, he leaves these beloved relatives and friends: Sisters-in-law Lynn Hawkins and Mary McClary; brothers-in-law Ed McClary and Glenn Oakley; Cousins: Dorothy Boerner, Clare Payne and Jim Payne. Nieces and nephews: Carter and Christian Oakley, Amy Huster, Grant and Scott Hawkins, Rob McClary, and Francie Cable. Special friends: Joel Gagne, Ponnie Kendall, Don Burns, Rob Reinker, Wade Byrnelson, and Gary Pomerantz. A celebration of his life will be held in late April. Those who wish to honor him may send donations to the Wellspring Multi-service Centers, 814 Nantasket Ave, Hull, MA 02045 (or &lt;a href=https://wellspringmultiservice.org/ target="new"&gt;&lt;b&gt;wellspringmultiservice.org&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;) or the Armenian General Benevolent Union (the Acabie and Yervant Family Endowment) 55 E. 59th St., New York, NY 10022 </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/2ae67afd97b54a77b9c5a44e381a74a9.JPG" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/299648</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8214045Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Stephen Avakian&lt;br/&gt;Mar 26, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description> Olga Hovagimian (Kasparian) of Waltham passed away on March 25, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Sahag Hovagimian. Devoted mother of Lucine Sarkisian and her husband Antranig, Raffi Hovagimian and his wife Nina, and the late Gary Garbis Hovagimian. Cherished grandmother of Simon, Anahid, Elizabeth, Sahag, Armen, Luke, and Massimo. Adored great-grandmother of Mia, Ani, Aria, Anthony, Adriana, and Felix. A funeral service will be held at Saint Stephen s Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown, on Tuesday, March 31 at 12 noon. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the church on Tuesday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, immediately prior to the service. Interment will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Stephen s Armenian Church or the Armenian Relief Society Leola Sassouni Chapter. Olga Hovagimian leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, and devotion to her family and community. She was married on December 25, 1960. In November 1976, she immigrated to the United States with her husband and three children, where she built a life defined by hard work, generosity, and deep community involvement. Before her marriage, Olga worked as a talented seamstress at a highly renowned shop in Aleppo. After settling in the United States, she worked at Middlesex County Hospital from 1977 until her retirement. Olga was an active and devoted member of her community. She belonged to the Church Ladies Guild and was always ready to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed. She was also a proud member of the ARS Leola Sassouni Chapter since December 1976, where she held various executive roles and made meaningful contributions to the organization. A woman of many talents and passions, Olga loved dancing and brought joy to those around her with her vibrant spirit. She also had a deep love for cooking. Having taken classes from a renowned cook in Aleppo, she became an exceptional cook in her own right, sharing her meals with family and friends. Above all, Olga was a deeply religious woman whose faith guided her life. She kept everyone she encountered in her prayers, offering kindness, compassion, and quiet strength to all who knew her. Olga will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her generous heart, and her dedication to serving others. Her memory will live on in the lives she touched and the love she shared. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/c7c7993b20b74fafb47f9c600d040916.jpeg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/299577</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8214045Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Olga Hovagimian&lt;br/&gt;Mar 25, 2026</title> </item> <item> <description>Seta Ganatchian of Waltham, March 22, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Nishan Tuysuzian. Devoted mother of Vahe Tuysuzian, Tsolig Chamlian, the late Dzovig Hajian and the late Shaghig Palanjian. Cherished grandmother of Chris, Eileen, Vatche, Vana, Sevag, Talar, Arly, and Pateil. Adored great grandmother of Remy, Lia, Wesley, Anna, Tro, Nara, Liana, Sevana, Liana, and Mateo. Loving aunt of Ara Surmenian and Dikran Meguerditchian. Funeral service at Saint Stephen s Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Thursday, March 26 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at church on Thursday morning from 10  11 a.m. immediately prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen s Armenian Church or Hamazkayin Parsegh Gananchian University in Beirut, Lebanon &lt;a href=https://donate.hamazkayin.com/ target="new"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Click Here&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. Interment at Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham. Seta Gananchian Tuysuzian was born to Kenar and renowned composer-conductor Parsegh Gananchian in Cyprus on November 19th, 1926. Though she lost her birth mother at the young age of two, her father remarried to Kristine Calfaian whom Seta adored, known to her loved ones as Mami. At 17 years old she began work for a daily publication Lorient Lejoure in Beirut Lebanon helping her family as her father's eyesight weakened. The following year she married Nishan Tuysuzian from Allepo, Syria. Together they had four children: Dzovig (married to Jack Hajian), Vahe (married to Noushig Saatdjian), Tsolig (married to Ara Chamlian), and Shaghig (married to Jack Palanjian). A dedicated and devoted daughter, sister to Aida &amp; Rita, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was full of love and generosity. Seta and Nishan's home became an "Agoump", a gathering place after Homenetmen or Gusaktsagan meetings. With a moment's notice Seta would lay out a feast that was both appealing to the eye and delicious, taking pride in the artistic presentation of her food. "I do not eat to live, I live to eat" she would say. Even after her husband's passing, her home in Beirut was always open to Hamazkayin's traveling dignitaries and artists. She looked forward to hosting at least two annual gastronomic events: the Mitchnink Open House and her November extravaganza celebrating all her Scorpio born friends with a cake made in the image of a scorpion. In addition to being a preeminent hostess, Seta was a dedicated volunteer. She was an active member in the Lebanese Red Cross from 1975-1992, the Armenian Relief Society from 1992-2006, and the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Association from 1961-2015. For ten years she worked as a volunteer in the blood lab at the American University of Beirut and at the Boulghourdijian Doctor's Clinic in Bourg Hamoud. Seta was brave and adventurous in her volunteer work. During the Lebanese Civil War in the late 1970's she would travel with the Red Cross to the Palestinian refugee camps dispensing much needed medications to a devastated population. And at a time where few would have dared or have been successful, she traveled alone to Lisbon identifying and bringing home to Lebanon the charred bodies of five Armenian young heros. A hero in her own right, she never gave up. Even after immigrating to the United States in 2015, at the age of 90 she volunteered at Mount Auburn Hospital in the medical records department! Finally, more than any other endeavor, her greatest passion and mission in life was promoting her father Parsegh Gananchian's work and legacy. Even until the months before her passing she would call Garbis Zerdelian or Zaven Torikian to suggest publications in the Hayrenik about his work, which they often kindly obliged. Seta's steadfast and determined personality was with her always. Resilient, determined, and resourceful, she was a force who will always be remembered. </description> <enclosure length="0" type="image/jpeg" url="https://currentobitwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/174/24f97bb2c9c34c18903931afd36b849e.jpeg" /> <link>https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/299472</link> <pubDateParsed>2026-05-05T15:56:41.8214045Z</pubDateParsed> <title>Seta Ganatchian&lt;br/&gt;Mar 22, 2026</title> </item> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 15:56:41 UTC</lastBuildDate> <link>/member/174</link> <title>CurrentObituary.com RSS feed for Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home</title> <pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 15:56:41 UTC</pubDate> <webMaster>webmaster@currentobituary.com</webMaster> </channel> </rss>