MARY OUZGHOUSHIAN VARTANIAN – ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVOR – (August 17, 1914-June 28, 2026)

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, and the Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy learned with sorrow of the passing of Mary Ouzghoushian Vartanian, the last known Armenian Genocide survivor in Massachusetts, on June 28. She passed away six weeks shy of her 112th birthday. 

Born on August 17, 1914, in Aintab, Cilicia, to Hagop and Maritsa Ouzghoushian, she was the eldest of four children. At the age of eight, she and her family were forced to flee their homeland overnight during the mass exodus of the Aintab Armenians who had survived the Genocide and seek refuge in Aleppo, Syria. She attended the Grtasirats Armenian School in Aintab. In her youth she enjoyed crocheting and needlework. Mary was also very skilled in carpet weaving in the Armenian traditional patterns of Aintab.    

In Syria, she married Hovhannes Vartanian who, like his own father, was a talented violinist and composer. He performed for the Armenian Radio of Aleppo and was eventually awarded the Syrian National Medal of Recognition for his musical achievements. His career took him across the Middle East, where he frequently performed. They were blessed with six children—four sons and two daughters, Sarkis, Zaven, Garbis, Flora, Lisa and Avedis.

In the late 1960s, the family moved to Beirut, Lebanon. Yet life once again tested Mary’s strength. Within a few short years, her beloved husband passed away.

When two of her sons immigrated to the United States, Mary soon followed them in 1972. Although her sons eventually relocated to California, Mary chose to remain in Watertown, Mass. She lived independently for decades, devoted to her daughter Lisa and her grandchildren, and her beloved church family at Saint James Armenian Church, the Ladies Guild, and the AGBU Ladies Guild. 

Mary was a resident of Watertown for 45 years. Always active, she lived by herself until she was 101. After a fall, she decided to move into the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where she was beloved by fellow residents and staff.

In April of 2024, at the age of 109, Mary received a special recognition from the Armenian Genocide Committee of Greater Boston during the annual commemoration at the Massachusetts State House and was honored by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate with a resolution.  

Mary was also widely recognized for her exquisite needlepoint work, examples of which she generously gifted to the Holy See of Cilicia.  She created commemorative needlework pieces to honor the Genocide martyrs and survivors, which she gave to her family, grandchildren, and relatives, as well as to churches throughout the Boston area. She also gifted embroidery to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia.  

During his pontifical visit to the Eastern Prelacy in October 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia visited Mary Vartanian at the Armenian Nursing Home. His Holiness, who had Mrs. Vartanian as his teacher in his childhood, praised her resilience, faith, and dedication to the Armenian heritage and bestowed a special blessing upon her life. With great humility and pride, Mary gifted her last remaining “April 24” needlework to his Holiness, Catholicos Aram I.  

In her 112 years, she witnessed generations of her own family growing and flourishing, with 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. She lived through genocide, displacement, widowhood, and unimaginable changes. May God enlighten her soul and comfort her extended family.