William S. Sarkisian

1925 - 2012

William S. Sarkisian, 87
Auburn - William Sarkis Sarkisian, 87, of 118 Auburn Street, Auburn passed away peacefully on October 14, 2012 with his devoted wife Haydee by his side. Bill, as he was known, was a first-generation Armenian-American born in West Boylston on October 5, 1925 to Sarkis and Nectar (Vanetzian). Bill was a graduate of Rutland High School and the National Radio Institute. He served his country honorably as a Signalman aboard the USS Manayunk during WWII, and was a member of the Grand Lodge of Masons for 47 years, a member of the N.R.A., and a lifetime member of the Elks Club. Bill loved his job as the Sales Supervisor at his brother Mark Sr.'s business, Capitol Siding of Auburn, where they were blessed to work together side by side, every day for the last 55 years. Among his many accomplishments, Bill was an avid bowler and fisherman, had a single digit handicap in golf, winning many tournaments at Heritage and Pleasant Valley, hunted for 50 consecutive years in Old Town, Maine, was a successful TV and radio repairman, and in his later years enjoyed building and working on computers with his great-nephew Mark III. He loved dancing, his daily crossword puzzles, occasionally creating his own, and going to the casino to play the slot machines. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends and fondly remembered as a gifted story teller with a personality that made him friends wherever he went. He is survived by a large and loving family, including his children, William Jr. and his wife Linda of Auburn, Cheryl Mahan and her late husband Kevin of Millbury, Michele Consiglio and her husband Mauro of Walpole, all children of the late Michelina DiSilvestri, and Haydee's children, Thomas Bembenek and his wife Adona of Moriarty, NM, Anthony Bembenek of Auburn, Carolyn Peabody and her husband Steve of Ayer, and Timothy Bembenck of Auburn. He also leaves his brothers, Mark Sarkisian and his wife Nancy of Auburn and Patrick Sarkisian and his wife Carol of Rutland, his brother-in-law Felix A. Brizuela of Auburn, his grandchildren, Christopher, Angela, Megan, Mauro, Michael, Jacob, Thomas, and Steven, his great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Ariana, & Aaliyah, and his nieces and nephews Mark Jr. and Dale whom he worked with, Debra, James, David, Greg, Patrick, Lisa, and Sherri . He is pre-deceased by his parents and his brother James and his wife Katherine.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at the Britton-Wallace Funeral Home, 91 Central Street, Auburn on Thursday, October 18 from 4 - 7PM. Bill funeral service will be held on Friday, October 19 at 11AM at the Armenian Apostolic Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or the American Cancer Society. To leave a message of condolence for the family or to view the Book of Memories, please visit
www.brittonfuneralhomes.com