DerAvedisian, Jack of Watertown, October 23, 2018. Beloved husband of Thelma (Melkonian) DerAvedisian of 68 years. Devoted father of Suren DerAvedisian and his wife Sharon and Christine Mardoian and her husband Jack. Loving grandfather of Kirk and his wife Tamar, Alec, Melineh and her husband Kevork Chavoush, Adam and Adrineh. Also survived by 2 great grandchildren. Brother of Helen Dooley, Sonia DerAvedisian and the late Ralph DerAvedisian. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral service at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Monday, October 29 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
Visiting hours will be held at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church on Sunday from 4 – 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church or Camp Haiastan, P.O. Box C , Franklin, MA 02038. Interment at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown. Arrangements by Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, Watertown.
Jack was employed by the Star Market grocery stores for a period of thirty-five years, starting off as a clerk and working his way up to becoming Executive Vice—President of Retail Store Operations. Retiring from Star Market, he opened his own grocery store chain with his wife, Thelma, starting with their first store in Gilford, New Hampshire and later expanding into Massachusetts as Omni Foods. During his years of running Omni Foods, Jack was highlighted in a special feature broadcast by CNN’s Neil Cavuto as a businessman of the highest ethics and business standards for keeping at full pay and benefits all of the employees of the Chestnut Hill Omni Foods store when that store was damaged and forced to close for many months after a fire destroyed the shopping center where the Omni Foods store in Chestnut Hills was located. He was also proud of his Armenian ancestry and heritage and was a leading member of the group which built the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in Watertown that opened in 1980 and continues to serve the Armenian community in Watertown to this day. Among his many awards and honors, Jack was most privileged to be honored for his service to the Armenian Community by being awarded the title of Prince of Cilicia, the highest award given by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. Member of the Council of Armenian Executives.