DR. JANET MARKARIAN
(September 20, 1938-February 25, 2024)
It is with deep sorrow that His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, and the Religious and Lay Councils of the Prelacy learned of the passing of Janet A. (Mouradian) Markarian, 85, of Congers, New York.
Dr. Markarian died peacefully in the early morning hours on Sunday, February 25, in her home, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease for nearly a decade.
Born on September 20, 1938, in Mosul, Iraq, Dr. Markarian was the youngest daughter of Talia Naoum (Durlissanian) and Apraham Mouradian, natives of Dikranagerd. She lost her father at a young age and was raised by her mother and older sister, Alice. She and her family moved from Mosul to Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk, before eventually settling in Baghdad. She graduated as the first female valedictorian from the University of Baghdad College of Medicine in 1961.
Dr. Markarian arrived in the U.S. in 1964 to begin her career as a resident at Cornell University Medical Center/New York Hospital, where she used her maiden name and rose through the ranks, eventually attaining the rank of professor in 1984. Upon her retirement in 2000, she was designated Professor Emerita. During her 36-year tenure at Cornell, she was an integral part of the Department of Pathology and rendered distinguished and meritorious service to the Medical College. She was a very valuable and highly respected teacher for medical students, residents, and fellows; she has trained some of the best pathologists in the country. Dr. Markarian, an internationally renowned pathologist, was highly respected among her peers and had a distinguished publishing background, authoring/co-authoring scores of scientific research papers.
Aside from her family and career, Dr. Markarian’s Armenian heritage was central to her life. She was a member of the Armenian Co-Ed Youth Association of Baghdad, Homenetmen Baghdad, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society. After serving as Chairwoman of the ARS “Mayr” Chapter of New York, she served as a member of the ARS’s Central Executive. She was also a pillar of Hamazkayin New York Chapter’s theatrical and literary efforts, serving on the editorial board of “Menk” literary magazine, stage-managing over 50 theatrical productions, and founding the annual “Literary Gems and Wine” series.
She leaves behind her husband of 58 years, Dr. Herand Markarian, son, Gahmk Markarian, Esq, daughter, Dr. Yeraz Markarian, two grandchildren, Matteos and Sarine, and her four nieces, Shoghig (Karjian) Minassian, Sosi (Karjian) Simonian, Lucine Karjian, Hoori (Karjian) Samuelian and their families. Janet was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Alice (Mouradian) Karjian.
Visitation and wake will be held on Friday, March 1st from 6:30 – 9:00 pm (service at 8:00 pm) at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral, presided by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate. Interment services will be held at a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Armenian Relief Society Give (https://ars1910.org/give).
Archbishop Anoushavan and the greater Prelacy family extend their condolences to her loved ones and pray to God to bring them comfort and solace in this time of grief. May God illuminate her soul. Աստուած հոգին լուսաւորէ։