TALANIAN, ANN (VARTABEDIAN) - 1919 - 2021
Ann passed away peacefully at her home in Belmont on Saturday January 16, 2021, at age 101. She was born on September 19, 1919, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island to Reuben G. and Elsie A. (Hagopian) Vartabedian. They lived on her uncle’s farm, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. At age 8, her family moved to Hartford, Connecticut. She was an honors student at Hartford Public High School and an active tennis player. After graduation, she worked as a client services supervisor at Travelers Insurance Company until her marriage to Albert G. Talanian of Boston in 1948. They moved to Belmont with their three daughters in 1959. When her daughters were teenagers, Ann returned to work as client services supervisor at Doble Engineering Company in Watertown until her retirement.
Ann and Albert enjoyed 54 years of marriage until his death in 2002. Ann is survived by her daughters Nancy Talanian and husband Francis Fortino of Whately, MA; Deborah of Belmont; and Laurie Travia and husband Anthony Jr. of Winchester. Ann is also survived by her sister-in-law Nevart Talanian. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her sister Arline Bagdigian and brother-in-law Edward; her sister Iris Humphrey and brother-in-law John; her brother-in-law Charles Talanian; and her sisters-in-law Evelyn (Talanian) Mukjian, Virginia (Talanian) Ohanian, and Arsenne Tutunjian, and their husbands James Mukjian, Michael Ohanian, and Simon Tutunjian, respectively. She is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Ann was a member of Holy Trinity Armenian Apolstolic Church of Greater Boston, the church Womens’ Guild, and the Armenian Assembly of America. She enjoyed family gatherings, traveling, her summer home in Cotuit, MA, playing bridge, and watching the Red Sox.
Ann’s family gives special thanks to her team of physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, including Drs. William Carlson, Louis Ercolani, Annie Lee, and Katayoon Goodarzi, as well as her caregivers Robin Cedrone, Nora Turchi, and Susan Ruane, who surrounded her with comfort and love. Special gratitude is also extended to West River Hospice of Needham.
Funeral services and burial will be private. A memorial celebration of Ann’s life will be conducted at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.