Worcester—Marion (Der Harootunian)Der Kazarian, 97, Genocide Survivor and Author, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, surrounded by her loving children. She was the devoted wife of Charles Der Kazarian who predeceased her in 1982.
She is survived by her children: two daughters, Alma Der Kazarian of Worcester, Rose Asadoorian and husband Malcolm of Paxton MA; two sons, Charles K. Der Kazarian of Worcester, Peter Der Kazarian and wife Pamela of Holden MA. A daughter, Marian, predeceased her in 1953. She also leaves four grandchildren, Dr. Malcolm O. Asadoorian, Ara Asadoorian, Sherri Der Kazarian, Bryan Der Kazarian and wife Nanci, and two great-grandchildren, Emilee and Alyssa Der Kazarian, and many nieces and nephews in America and Armenia.
Marion was born in Ashodavan, Armenia, to Reverend Haroutune and Noonoofar (Mooradian) Der Harootunian. All of her siblings predeceased her: sisters Zemroot, Eskoohy, Rose, brothers Bedros, Dzolag, Haigaz, Khoren, Tzavag. She was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire which started on April 24, 1915, claiming the lives of her father, who was tortured and murdered by the Turks, and 29 other members of her extended family, who perished in the massacres and forced desert marches that eventually took the lives of 1,500,000 victims.
After going through many harrowing and tragic crises and fleeing not only the Turkish army but the 1917 Russian Revolution, Marion and the surviving members of the Der Harootunian Family came to America in 1921 and settled in Worcester. Her autobiography, Sacrifice and Redemption, chronicles her experiences during the Armenian Genocide and her life in this country.
She graduated from North High School and the Driscoll School of Beauty, opening her own business, Marion’s Beauty Shop, in 1930 and running it until her marriage in 1934.
Marion was a member of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour. Her church activities included Church Choir, Sunday School, Armenian Language School, Daughters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Senior Ladies Guild. She was also a member of the Daughters of Vartan, the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research, and served as Chairwoman of the Worcester Chapter of the Jamaica Plain Armenian Nursing Home.
She acted in many theatrical productions, both in church plays and in professional drama groups. She and her husband Charles starred in several dramas that were created as fundraisers for the Armenian Church of Our Saviour’s building fund.
Marion received numerous awards and much recognition for her accomplishments including a resolution from the MA House and Senate at the Boston State House Armenian Genocide Commemoration for being a Genocide survivor and as the author of Sacrifice and Redemption. She was presented with a City Proclamation and Key-to-the-City by Worcester Mayor Raymond V. Mariano following the publication of her book. She was recognized by the Armenian Church of Our Saviour for her many years of dedicated service to the church and to the community. She received a citation from Catholicos Karekin I, the Armenian Patriarch, on the occasion of the centennial of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in recognition of her contributions to America as an early Armenian immigrant.
Marion was a loving, devoted person who doted on her family. She loved to travel with her husband, garden, read, and write. She was especially fond of entertaining her family and many friends. Her warmth, beautiful smile, intelligence, generosity, and outgoing personality charmed and endeared her to everyone she met. She was very proud of her Armenian heritage and culture.
Calling hours are Sunday, June 11 from 5-8 p.m. at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester. The Daughters of Vartan Santoukht will hold a memorial service at 6:30pm. A Dahngark service will be performed at 7:30 p.m. The funeral service is 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 12 at the Armenian Church of Our Saviour. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Salisbury Street, Worcester MA 01609. For directions and on-line guestbook, please visit:
NordgrenMemorialChapel.com