CHARLOTTE ASADOORIAN

Charlotte Asadoorian, the last surviving member of the original Nalbandian family that left their Armenian homeland in 1912 and settled in the valley, died on Sunday, March 3, 2013, at the age of 90. Charlotte was born on January 26, 1923, on a grape farm outside Tulare, the youngest of Sarkis and Sara Nalbandian's five children. Like the others, she learned how to tie vines and lay out raisins, though owing to her status as the youngest, Charlotte was known as the "spoiled one." After graduating from Tulare Union High School, where she made her mark as a student athlete who once bowled a perfect 300, Charlotte met James Asadoorian, with his Boston accent and U. Navy stripes. They married in 1946 and were blessed a decade later with their first and only child, Alan. Their early years were lean, first living behind a bar and café that James owned in Calwa. Charlotte went to work, demonstrating new Universal exercise machines and working at various clerical jobs. Then in the 1960s, as James opened a real estate and insurance business, Charlotte took a job with Sears at Manchester Center. She found her perfect fit, earning state and national awards for her smooth salesmanship. Her younger colleagues on the floor could only watch in awe as Charlotte's customers left the store bearing new TV sets - and vinyl records to boot. A strong willed woman with a fierce determination, Charlotte was a devoted member of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, where she was celebrated as Mother of the Year in 2005. She never missed the dance recitals of her three granddaughters, and her ethnic dishes, especially her "kheyma" and the sour pickled peppers known as tour-she, earned many raves. In 2007, she and son Alan made a trip of a lifetime, back to the Armenian homeland where she met first cousins for the first time. Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband James; siblings, Sarah Hovannisian, Mardiros Nalbandian, Margaret Kevorkian and Mike Nalbandian. She is survived by her son, Alan Asadoorian his wife Michelle, and their daughters, Caitlan, Alyssa and Adrienne; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Leonard Hackett and nurse Bill White and countless other staff members for their dedicated care during Charlotte's remarkable 12-year battle with cancer, as well as her two loving caregivers over the past couple months, Lena and Mary. Viewing will be held at Yost & Webb Funeral Home on Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Service will be held at Holy Trinity Armenian Church on Friday, March 8, 2013, at 12:00 noon. Remembrances may be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Church; or Hinds Hospice.