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OBITUARY: CHARLOTTE KECHEJIAN, 100
By Contributor // September 19, 2013 in Obituaries
Charlotte (Arsha) Kechejian, 100, of New York, passed away peacefully
on Sept. 10. She was born in Nigde, Turkey on Oct. 21, 1912 to the late
Setrak and Elmone Avakian. As a young child, she endured the horror of
the Armenian Genocide, including her father's murder. Young Arsha lived
in an orphanage where her mother was a nurse. Over time, they made
their way across the desert of Syria, through Lebanon, then by ship
to France, and arrived at Ellis Island in New York when she was 10.
Charlotte Kechejian
Arsha was eager to learn and loved the New York Public Library,
where she expanded her English-language skills. Her mother re-married,
and Charlotte welcomed a brother, Charlie Genjian. She graduated from
Washington Irving High School in New York, and worked in retail.
When Charlotte was 19, she married the love of her life, the late
Oscar Kechejian, in 1932. Initially, they lived in Washington Heights,
and then moved to New Rochelle, where she raised her family. Shortly
after Oscar's death in 1976, she moved to Fort Lee, N.J., and enjoyed
living near Charlie and watching her family expand with grandchildren.
Throughout her life, she was an active and loving mother, grandmother,
sister, neighbor, and friend.
In recent years, Charlotte took residence at the New York Armenian home
in Flushing. She was a vibrant member of the community and remained
an active voice to remember and recognize the Armenian Genocide. In
2010, Charlotte went to Washington, D.C. to testify at a hearing of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Armenian Genocide Resolution
252. With her testimony, the resolution passed.
As recently as April, she attended the 98th commemoration of the
atrocities in Times Square. With the 100th anniversary of the genocide
approaching, Charlotte offered interviews and first-hand accounts
of what happened. In March she told reporters, "I remember feeling
so tired and hungry, but my mother kept telling me to walk just a
little more."
"I miss my father," she added, shaking her head. "I miss him."
Charlotte is survived by her three children, Edward Kechejian (Lynn)
of Florida, Madeline Magarian (the late Aram Magarian) of New York,
and Gregory Kechejian (Diane) of New Jersey. She is also survived by
six grandchildren, Eric Kechejian, Christine (Kechejian) Miles, Michael
Magarian, Paul Kechejian, Sarah Kechejian, and Lauren Kechejian, and
10 great-grandchildren. Charlotte is also survived by her brother,
Charles Genjian (Grace) of New Jersey, along with many nephews,
nieces, cousins. and friends.
Funeral services were held on Sept. 12 at the Armenian Church of the
Holy Martyrs in Bayside, N.Y., followed by the burial beside Oscar
at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to
either the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs (209-15 Horace Harding
Expressway, Bayside, NY 11364) or the New York Armenian Home (137-31
45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355).
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/19/obituary-charlotte-kechejian-100/
By Contributor // September 19, 2013 in Obituaries
Charlotte (Arsha) Kechejian, 100, of New York, passed away peacefully
on Sept. 10. She was born in Nigde, Turkey on Oct. 21, 1912 to the late
Setrak and Elmone Avakian. As a young child, she endured the horror of
the Armenian Genocide, including her father's murder. Young Arsha lived
in an orphanage where her mother was a nurse. Over time, they made
their way across the desert of Syria, through Lebanon, then by ship
to France, and arrived at Ellis Island in New York when she was 10.
Charlotte Kechejian
Arsha was eager to learn and loved the New York Public Library,
where she expanded her English-language skills. Her mother re-married,
and Charlotte welcomed a brother, Charlie Genjian. She graduated from
Washington Irving High School in New York, and worked in retail.
When Charlotte was 19, she married the love of her life, the late
Oscar Kechejian, in 1932. Initially, they lived in Washington Heights,
and then moved to New Rochelle, where she raised her family. Shortly
after Oscar's death in 1976, she moved to Fort Lee, N.J., and enjoyed
living near Charlie and watching her family expand with grandchildren.
Throughout her life, she was an active and loving mother, grandmother,
sister, neighbor, and friend.
In recent years, Charlotte took residence at the New York Armenian home
in Flushing. She was a vibrant member of the community and remained
an active voice to remember and recognize the Armenian Genocide. In
2010, Charlotte went to Washington, D.C. to testify at a hearing of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Armenian Genocide Resolution
252. With her testimony, the resolution passed.
As recently as April, she attended the 98th commemoration of the
atrocities in Times Square. With the 100th anniversary of the genocide
approaching, Charlotte offered interviews and first-hand accounts
of what happened. In March she told reporters, "I remember feeling
so tired and hungry, but my mother kept telling me to walk just a
little more."
"I miss my father," she added, shaking her head. "I miss him."
Charlotte is survived by her three children, Edward Kechejian (Lynn)
of Florida, Madeline Magarian (the late Aram Magarian) of New York,
and Gregory Kechejian (Diane) of New Jersey. She is also survived by
six grandchildren, Eric Kechejian, Christine (Kechejian) Miles, Michael
Magarian, Paul Kechejian, Sarah Kechejian, and Lauren Kechejian, and
10 great-grandchildren. Charlotte is also survived by her brother,
Charles Genjian (Grace) of New Jersey, along with many nephews,
nieces, cousins. and friends.
Funeral services were held on Sept. 12 at the Armenian Church of the
Holy Martyrs in Bayside, N.Y., followed by the burial beside Oscar
at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to
either the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs (209-15 Horace Harding
Expressway, Bayside, NY 11364) or the New York Armenian Home (137-31
45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355).
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/19/obituary-charlotte-kechejian-100/