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LAST BAY AREA ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVOR DIES
http://asbarez.com/120752/last-bay-area-armenian-genocide-survivor-dies/
Tuesday, March 18th, 2014
Takouhie Keshishian
SAN FRANCISCO--The last known Armenian Genocide survivor in the San
Francisco Bay Area has died. Takouhie Keshishian, age 99, passed away
peacefully on February 26th. She was one of the last living survivors
of the 20th century's first systematic genocide, perpetrated by the
Ottoman Turkish government against its Armenian subjects, 1915 -1923,
during which more than half of the Armenian population living on
its ancient homeland was killed, and their personal and community
properties seized.
Takouhie had often expressed her wish that the Turkish government
and the U.S. Congress recognize the Armenian Genocide. She has been
honored as a source of strength and voice of justice at Bay Area
Armenian Genocide commemorative events, held at the historic Mt.
Davidson Cross in San Francisco. In a video message to the Armenian
community, Keshishian had a simple yet powerful message: "We must
never forget what Turkey did. . . We must always remember."
Takouhie is survived by 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 24
great-grandchildren. Funeral services and interment took place on
Saturday, March 8, 2014, at 11:00 AM, at Cypress Lawn, 1370 El Camino
Real, Colma CA.
California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom sent a condolence letter to the
Keshishian Family. "She was a leader in every sense of the word"
stated Lt. Governor Newsom. "Her leadership touched her family,
friends, community, and demonstrates that there are no obstacles in
life that cannot be overcome."
Congresswoman Jackie Kanchelian Speier issued a statement and had
a flag flown at the US Capitol in memory of Takouhi Keshishian. "I
share with Takouhie her wish that the Turkish government and the U.S.
Congress recognize the Armenian Genocide" stated Rep. Speier. "I have
introduced legislation to that effect since 2008 and will continue
to do so until it passes in the Congress."
"Considering the traumatic experiences she had endured, our grandmother
had such a great, positive spirit which we loved so much.
She taught us a lot about life and values," said Ara Makasdjian,
Keshishian's grandson and ANCA- San Francisco Bay Area Board Member.
Takouhie was born in the city of Adana, Turkey, on February 14, 1915.
Her mother, Marie, was born in the village of Missis, outside of
Adana. When the massacres against Armenians in that region were
unleashed by the Turkish Sultan in 1909, Marie's entire family was
murdered, and her village, destroyed. A kind neighbor saved Marie,
keeping her hidden and safe, until she could make her way to Adana,
where she later gave birth to Takouhie.
Takouhie never knew her father. When she was two months old, he fled
the Turkish army into Syria. (Armenian men were being conscripted into
segregated, un-armed sections of the army, and later murdered). During
his flight, disguised as a Kurd, he saw many Armenians on forced
death marches, including his own sister and her family. He contracted
Typhoid and never returned.
Takouhie's mother Marie, was married off to another man and as a
child, Takouhie was told that this man was her father who had come
back from the army. In addition to her eldest son and Takouhie,
Marie also later gave birth to more two sons and a daughter.
In 1921, under the threat of continuing massacres, the family was
able to leave Adana, travelling by boat to Tripoli, Lebanon. When the
family arrived in Lebanon, their very poor condition was exacerbated
by the fact they didn't know the language. Takouhie's stepfather died
of food poisoning. Instead of going to school, Takouhie cared for
her younger siblings while her mother worked to support them. Each
evening, Takouhie joined her mother in creating embroidery pieces,
which her mother sold for income the follow day.
Takouhie married Antranig Keshishian in the 1930's, and they had 6
children, 5 girls and a boy - Shake, Loucine, Anahid, Dikran, Sossi,
and Sona.
After years of living through the devastating Lebanese civil war,
several of her children moved to the Bay Area, and Takouhie joined them
in 1987. In her last years, she was a resident of Pacifica, California.
http://asbarez.com/120752/last-bay-area-armenian-genocide-survivor-dies/
Tuesday, March 18th, 2014
Takouhie Keshishian
SAN FRANCISCO--The last known Armenian Genocide survivor in the San
Francisco Bay Area has died. Takouhie Keshishian, age 99, passed away
peacefully on February 26th. She was one of the last living survivors
of the 20th century's first systematic genocide, perpetrated by the
Ottoman Turkish government against its Armenian subjects, 1915 -1923,
during which more than half of the Armenian population living on
its ancient homeland was killed, and their personal and community
properties seized.
Takouhie had often expressed her wish that the Turkish government
and the U.S. Congress recognize the Armenian Genocide. She has been
honored as a source of strength and voice of justice at Bay Area
Armenian Genocide commemorative events, held at the historic Mt.
Davidson Cross in San Francisco. In a video message to the Armenian
community, Keshishian had a simple yet powerful message: "We must
never forget what Turkey did. . . We must always remember."
Takouhie is survived by 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 24
great-grandchildren. Funeral services and interment took place on
Saturday, March 8, 2014, at 11:00 AM, at Cypress Lawn, 1370 El Camino
Real, Colma CA.
California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom sent a condolence letter to the
Keshishian Family. "She was a leader in every sense of the word"
stated Lt. Governor Newsom. "Her leadership touched her family,
friends, community, and demonstrates that there are no obstacles in
life that cannot be overcome."
Congresswoman Jackie Kanchelian Speier issued a statement and had
a flag flown at the US Capitol in memory of Takouhi Keshishian. "I
share with Takouhie her wish that the Turkish government and the U.S.
Congress recognize the Armenian Genocide" stated Rep. Speier. "I have
introduced legislation to that effect since 2008 and will continue
to do so until it passes in the Congress."
"Considering the traumatic experiences she had endured, our grandmother
had such a great, positive spirit which we loved so much.
She taught us a lot about life and values," said Ara Makasdjian,
Keshishian's grandson and ANCA- San Francisco Bay Area Board Member.
Takouhie was born in the city of Adana, Turkey, on February 14, 1915.
Her mother, Marie, was born in the village of Missis, outside of
Adana. When the massacres against Armenians in that region were
unleashed by the Turkish Sultan in 1909, Marie's entire family was
murdered, and her village, destroyed. A kind neighbor saved Marie,
keeping her hidden and safe, until she could make her way to Adana,
where she later gave birth to Takouhie.
Takouhie never knew her father. When she was two months old, he fled
the Turkish army into Syria. (Armenian men were being conscripted into
segregated, un-armed sections of the army, and later murdered). During
his flight, disguised as a Kurd, he saw many Armenians on forced
death marches, including his own sister and her family. He contracted
Typhoid and never returned.
Takouhie's mother Marie, was married off to another man and as a
child, Takouhie was told that this man was her father who had come
back from the army. In addition to her eldest son and Takouhie,
Marie also later gave birth to more two sons and a daughter.
In 1921, under the threat of continuing massacres, the family was
able to leave Adana, travelling by boat to Tripoli, Lebanon. When the
family arrived in Lebanon, their very poor condition was exacerbated
by the fact they didn't know the language. Takouhie's stepfather died
of food poisoning. Instead of going to school, Takouhie cared for
her younger siblings while her mother worked to support them. Each
evening, Takouhie joined her mother in creating embroidery pieces,
which her mother sold for income the follow day.
Takouhie married Antranig Keshishian in the 1930's, and they had 6
children, 5 girls and a boy - Shake, Loucine, Anahid, Dikran, Sossi,
and Sona.
After years of living through the devastating Lebanese civil war,
several of her children moved to the Bay Area, and Takouhie joined them
in 1987. In her last years, she was a resident of Pacifica, California.