MARY (GIRAZIAN) YACUBIAN
Of Lynnfield Formerly of Belmont
Mary Yacubian of Lynnfield, MA, formerly of Belmont, MA for 56 years, passed away peacefully on April 22nd at the age of 106. Devoted wife of the late Harry Mihrtad Yacubian, cherished mother of Gary C. and Deborah Clark Yacubian, Harriet V and Thomas Anderson. Loving grandmother of Catherine Decoux, Michael Yacubian, Tommy Anderson, and Will Anderson. Loving great grandmother to Amelia Decoux, Logan Decoux, Miles Anderson, Wesley Anderson and Maggie Grace Anderson. Sister of the late Evelyn (Girazian) Sarkisian and Margaret (Girazian) Agababian. She was always on the forefront of this family instilling love, wisdom and strength of spirit! She led a full and happy life and will be missed by her devoted family and friends.
A Memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge on Wednesday, May 4 at 12 noon. A Visitation period will be held at church from 11 – 12 noon, immediately prior to the Memorial service. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Cemetery prayers will follow at Belmont Cemetery,121 Grove Street, Belmont.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 or ALSAC/St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
MARY (GIRAZIAN) YACUBIAN (106)
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 13, 1915 to Veron (Berberian) and Charlie Garo (Girazian). They moved to Detroit (Highland Park) Michigan at age 12. Graduated high school in 1933 and worked at Hudson Department Stores. Through friends and family, she met and married Harry Yacubian in 1945 and he moved her back to Massachusetts. She worked at Paine’s Furniture before starting her family, settling in Watertown and then lived in Belmont until she reached 100 years of age. When her children were old enough, she started a 40 year career working at Harvard University, first at the School of Design Library and then in the President’s Office (during President Bok, Rudenstein and Summers’ time). She was the first person to greet you at the front desk, they loved her there for many years…into her 80’s.
She loved and cherished her family first, making sure her children went to college, as she never got that chance. Education was most important. She loved entertaining family and friends, always bringing people together for a meal and laughter. Her manners and her ethics were pure of heart. She most enjoyed playing cards with her Armenian lady friends. Her Armenian heritage was strong and she passed this on to her children and grandchildren in her cooking and her holiday traditions. Favorite card game was Hand and Foot – playing til 104. She was an avid Bridge player also.
She sewed beautifully, making her own clothing as a young woman, she often reminisced about the hats and dresses of the 1930s and 40s. She loved fashion and was a smart shopper of Filene’s Basement and taught her children the “art of finding a deal”. She was very active at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church (Cambridge, MA) in the 60’s and 70’s, part of the Ladies Guild and the Daughters of Vartan (President 1970).
Losing her husband, Harry, in 1970, she continued to support her family, becoming the Matriarch of the Yacubian family.
She leaves behind a devoted and loving family who will honor her forever as a kind and generous person, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt and Friend.