Anne (Berberian) Ohanian passed away peacefully on June 21, 2021, in Woburn, Massachusetts at age 98.
Born January 24, 1923, Anne was the daughter of Khachadur and Sahaganush Berberian, survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. She was raised in Arlington, Massachusetts and graduated from Arlington High School. In 1942, Anne married the late Arthur A. Ohanian and they shared 67 years of love, happiness, and mutual respect, raising a family in Belmont, Massachusetts. A doting mother, Anne was a homemaker “par excellence”. She was famous among family and friends as a skillful baker of Armenian pastries, notably her “khadayif” and “beoregs”. Along with Arthur, she was the host to memorable holiday celebrations, summer “shish kebab” barbeques, and mid-winter skating parties (the “Frog Pond” at the Belmont Country Club was practically in the Belmont home backyard!).
Anne was a long and active member of St. Stephens Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown and a volunteer at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (A.C.E.C.).
She enjoyed travel, and Armenian music and dancing. She was talented at floral arranging, ceramics, jewelry beading and, more recently, painting. She liked to entertain all with her joke-telling and enjoyed competitive card games. And as a resident of 12 years at Brightview Senior Living in Woburn, Anne was the enthusiastic instructor of a weekly exercise class called “Stretch and Tone with Anne”, which she was able to continue into her 97th year until the onset of the Pandemic curtailed all social activities.
Anne’s family would like to thank the BrightView Community for the warm and welcoming home environment they offered to Anne. And we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the hospice team and home health aides for their loving and gentle care in the last few weeks of her life.
Anne is survived by her brother Vahan Berberian and his wife Beverly. Beloved mother to her children Barbara Gumuchian of Woburn MA and her late husband Stephan Gumuchian, Joan Ohanian and her husband Mossik Hacobian of East Boston MA, and Peter Ohanian and his wife Suzan Messina of Windham NH. Loving grandmother to eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. “Auntie” to numerous nieces and nephews, and “Annie” to her many cousins. Sister of the late Nishan Berberian and his late wife Geraldine.
Funeral service at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Tuesday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. A Visitation period will be held at church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., immediately prior to the funeral service. Interment to follow at Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen’s Armenian Church or the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472.
Due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic, current public health and safety measures will be followed. Social distancing and facemasks will be required for everyone’s safety.