Worcester--Rose Rustigian Baljian, 85, formerly of Paxton, died Thursday, March 9, 2006, at the Odd Fellows Home after a long illness. She would have celebrated her 86 birthday on March 14. Rose was married for 57 years to the late Vahe V. Baijian who died in 1999. Born in Hartford, CT, she was the daughter of the late Kevork and Aghavni Rustigiam She graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1937 and worked at The Travelers Insurance Co. until her marriage. She then moved to Worcester in 1947 and retired from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in 1982 after 23 years. Rose was a member of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and its Ladies’ Guild. She instilled her love of the Church and her pride in her Armenian heritage in her children and her grandchildren. She was an expert Armenian cook, relying on her instincts and lessons from her mother rather than cookbooks. Her happiest times were gatherings of family and friends around her table enjoying her many culinary triumphs. Music was an integral part of her life. She learned to play the piano on her own and could play anything after hearing it just once. She also loved to sing and sang in various Armenian Choruses throughout her life. She enjoyed working on crossword puzzles and was an expert Scrabble player. Rose was a gentle soul with a vibrant loving spirit. Her beautiful smile will be missed by many.
She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Baljian of Worcester and a son, Reverend Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of Watertown, and his wife Cheryl of Waltham, a granddaughter, Nayiri and her husband, James Bell of Waltham, a grandson, Deacon Nishan of Waltham and his fiancée, Alice Tchobanian and a brother, Robert Rustigian of Honolulu, Hawaii. She leaves many nephews and nieces:
Lt.Col. (ret.) George Rustigian and his wife Barbara of Newington, Connecticut, Dr. Arsine Oshagan of Radnor, PA, Jackie Rustigian of Alexandria, VA, Roy Zartarian of Newington, CT, Anne Zartarian of New York City, Charlene Zartarian of Larchmont, NY; Lois, Robert, Pamela and Ronald Rustigian of Connecticut; Marianne Pajak of Arizona, and Craig Rustigian of Oregon. She also leaves several grand nephews, nieces, and cousins. She was predeceased by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jacob and Stella Rustigian and John and Rose Rustigian; two sisters and a brother-in- law, Margaret Zartarian and her husband Charles, and Alyce Rustigian. Funeral services under the direction of Nordgren Memorial Chapel will be held Tuesday, March 14, at 11:00 a.m. in Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery. Calling hours in the church will be Monday from 4-8 p.m. A Dahngark Service will be held at 7:00. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Vahe and Rose Baljian Memorial Scholarship Fund of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, 30 Elta Ave., Watertown, MA 02472. For on-line guestbook, please visit: NordgrenMemorialChapel.com