WORCESTER - Pearl "Koharig" Paloulian Arakelian, 95, a lifetime resident of Worcester MA passed away peacefully Thursday, May 13, 2021 at UMass Memorial Hospital. Pearl was born April 17, 1926, daughter of Mgirdich Mike Paloulian and genocide survivor Hripsime Rose Lalian. She was married to George "Kooken" Arakelian, who predeceased her seven years ago. She is survived by: her three children, Carol Arakelian of Yarmouth Port MA, Joyce Mirow wife of Peter Mirow, and Michael Arakelian husband to Joan, both of Worcester; four grandchildren Kimberly Gazal Santos, wife of Timothy Santos, and Michael, Julie, and Alex Arakelian; three extended grandchildren Matthew, Joseph and Johnathan Mirow; her sister, Bernice Kachadorian; sister-in-law Alice Lacey and brother-in-law Robert Ghiz, and many endearing nieces, nephews, and cousins. Two sisters, Beatrice Toromanian and June Bogoian, predeceased her.
Pearl grew up in an Armenian community on Chandler Street. She went to Winslow Street School and Fanning Trade High School where she learned and mastered her vocation as a seamstress. She opened her own sewing store in the late 1940s, which she later turned into a social club for returning WWII veterans. The social club became the Armenian American Civic Club. For many years she worked at Knox dress shop and taught sewing classes at Fanning. She was well known and respected for her talent, but most of all, she will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Family meant everything.
In lieu of flowers, a gift in the memory of Pearl may be made to either the: Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Salisbury Street, Worcester MA 01609, or the Armenian Apostolic Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester MA 01605.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit the Arakelian Family between 10:00 and 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the Armenian Church of Our Saviour. Funeral services will commence at 11:00 AM, followed by her burial at Hope Cemetery. Masks and social distancing measures will be required. To leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.