Zevart Hagopian
A woman of strong and unwavering faith, she entered the Lord’s Kingdom on May 24, surrounded by her loving daughters and grandchildren, who will miss her tremendously.
The ninth of 10 children, Zevart Terterian was born in Kessab, Syria in 1936, to Asadour and Elizar Terterian, who were survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Her family later moved to Beirut, Lebanon, where she met and married Khoren Hagopian, who upon his ordination to the priesthood was known as Der Torkom. They immigrated to the United States in 1960 as the Armenian diaspora was growing, to serve the Armenian Apostolic church and tend to the faithful. After serving the Syracuse, Troy and Binghamton, NY Armenian communities for a brief period, they settled in the Watertown community with their 3 young daughters. Together, Der Torkom and Yeretsgin served our community for more than 35 years, with faith and family at the center of their lives. These are tenets they would impart to their family.
Yeretsgin was an incredibly strong and wise woman. She was a warm, loving and spiritual soul who naturally gave of herself and left a mark with everyone she met. She was also gifted in so many different ways: as a seamstress, she designed and sewed custom clothing for many clients. As a gardener, she could grow grass in her pocket, sowing her own garden every year. As a cook, she was inventive, often leaning in on her childhood experiences of ‘making do’ with whatever was available and adding a modern flair. But her greatest gift was rooted in raising her family.
Yeretsgin was the cherished mother of Zovig Boyajian and her husband John; Noushig Hagopian and her husband Tim Enright; and Sonya Hagopian. Doting and loving grandmother of Tamar and Paul Kanarian; Alec Enright and wife Shannon; Kyle and Nairi Enright; and Lenna Wolffe. Adoring great grandmother of Noah Patrick Enright. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years - her lifelong partner and friend - Archpriest Torkom Hagopian; brothers Garo, Souren, Haigaz, and Vartkes Terterian; and sisters Siranoush Markarian, Askanoush Andekian and Sara Santourian. She is survived by her brother George Terterian of California and her sister Varsenig Terterian Nakutis of Florida. She will be dearly missed by surviving nieces, nephews, parishioners, friends and countless others whose lives she touched.
Visiting hours and funeral services at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown MA, on Saturday, May 27: calling hour from 9 – 10 am, with services commencing at 10:00 am. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church. Internment at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Arrangements by Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, Watertown.