SONIA TUTELIAN

Sonia Tutelian passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at home, surrounded by her loving family and her beloved dog Max, just as she wanted. Born of Armenian immigrant parents in Waukegan, IL, on June 16, 1928, she moved to West New York, NJ, at a very early age where she was raised with her extended family. She moved to Pasadena, CA, with her family in the late 1940s, and met the love of her life, John Tutelian, in San Francisco, CA, at a Triple X Convention. While dancing on the evening they met, he declared, "I'm going to marry you!" to which she replied, "You're crazy." And marry they did six weeks later on June 21, 1952, in Fresno, CA, where they built their life together and raised their family. Sonia was a beautiful spiritual woman with a youthful zest for life. A magnificent hostess and Armenian cook, Sonia was a gifted artist and decorator with her own style. Some called her style "casual elegance." She loved spending time at the ocean in Carmel, CA, and was an avid tennis player with a wicked forehand and a little curtsy-like serve. She always enjoyed traveling, including pilgrimages to Armenia and to the Armenian Convent in Jerusalem. Sonia was a devoted and beloved board member at Spirit of Women, a non-profit for women and their children recovering from addiction and domestic violence. She was not only a patron who funded their facilities, but she was involved personally with the women residents offering support and compassion in their recovery. The family is especially grateful to her caregivers, Justin, Nunufar, Rahel, and Rosa, who greatly enhanced her quality of life with their love and grace. Sonia was preceded in death by her husband, John; mother and step-father, Badaskhan and Charles Asoian; father, Kareken Jerikian; and brother, Shant Asoian. She is survived by her son, Clifford Tutelian, daughter-in-law, Roxan Tutelian, and their sons, John, Joseph and Michael; her daughter, Michelle Tutelian, and her sons, Christopher and Marcus Missirlian; and her stepdaughter, Christine Sarkisian, and her children, Monique Daviau and Sam Sarkisian; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, March 1, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul Armenian Church on Friday, March 2, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Ararat Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to St. Paul Armenian Church; or the Spirit of Women. Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns and Blair Funeral Home, 1525 East Saginaw Way, Fresno, California (559)227-4048