ASDGHIG KAZANJIAN (June 16, 1943 – December 23, 2022)

Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, and the Religious and Lay Councils learned with sorrow of the untimely passing of Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian on the morning of Friday, December 23, 2022.   

Mrs. Kazanjian was born on June 16, 1943, in Palestine. She was the daughter of Dirahayr Nishan and Diramayr Satenig Der Kaloustian, who moved to the United States following in the footsteps of their son, the late Archpriest Father Moushegh Der Kaloustian. In the New World, they continued their life centered around the church.  

She was a role model of service for the last sixty years and especially for the past half century in the Philadelphia community, always ready to provide help to everyone and especially lending her support to the charitable, social, cultural and youth initiatives of the Prelacy. Her active participation in the St. Gregory of Datev Academy for 25 years is of note. “Armenian Delight,” her Middle Eastern gourmet food store and bakery located in Broomall, PA, had become more of a center to introduce the traditional Armenian cuisine to foreigners.  

In acknowledgment of her devoted work and service to the community and the Prelacy, she was awarded the Eastern Prelacy’s “Good Samaritan” certificate of merit in May 2022 during the National Representative Assembly held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia (picture).  

She is survived by her two sons, Ara and Vicken, her younger sister Marilouise and her husband Parsegh Mahdasian (Wisconsin), her nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and their children, cousins as well as godchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (memo: “in lieu of flowers Asdghig Kazanjian”). St Gregory will distribute funds received to St. Gregory Church, the Eastern Prelacy Orphan’s Fund and to the Armenian Sisters Academy in her honor. 

The Prelate will preside over the funeral service on Thursday, December 29, at St. Gregory the Illuminator, accompanied by the Pastors of the area. The wake will be held from 9:30 am – 11:00 am, followed by the funeral service at the church and internment at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, PA.