Sue Manzell Kilijian

1930 - 2022

Sue Mardigian Manzell Kilijian
April 22, 1930 - February 19, 2022
Fresno, California - Sue Mardigian Manzell Kilijian was born in Roslindale, Massachusetts on April 22, 1930. Sue and her family left their life in Boston in 1936, moving across the U.S. by train to Fresno; the Mardigians first settled in Little Armenia in a home behind Holy Trinity Church. The family owned a neighborhood grocery store and later, a dime store.
Sue dreamed of getting a higher education and seeing the world, but life at first dealt her a different plan – for years, she worked hard constantly to help her parents with their stores. In her early career, she worked for Fireman's Fund.
One of Sue's biggest life moments was to travel in Europe for several months in 1965 with her dear friend Virginia; she always spoke fondly of those travels.
After she returned from Europe, a close friend soon became more than a friend. Sue and Hal Manzell married on December 26, 1965. A few years later, they welcomed their daughter, Michelle.
Life handed Sue many challenges over the next decade; she lost Hal in 1972 and her father the next year. Nevertheless, she handled life's challenges with strength and resolve, helping guide her for the rest of her life.
Sue had always dreamt of furthering her education, and in midlife she did exactly that: She attended law school at San Joaquin College of Law, graduating in the class of 1984. She used that law degree to work as a worker's comp hearing representative for several insurance companies in Fresno, often traveling across California.
In 1991, her dear friend, Mary, re-connected her with Michael Kilijian; they married on August 21, 1992 and enjoyed more than 29 years of happiness together.
An even greater joy came in 2011 when her first grandchild, Tommy, was born; more joy arrived in 2014 with the birth of William. If you knew Sue, you would get an earful of these two bright shining lights in her life.
Sue Mardigian was a fierce and loyal daughter and sister; Sue Manzell was a joyous wife and mother; Sue Kilijian was a very happy wife and ecstatic grandmother.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents Vartan and Mary Mardigian; her daughter, Deborah; her first husband, Harold Manzell; sister Helen Mardigian Kaye; niece, Alison Harr and nephew Justin Harr; and her dearest friends, Mary Noroian, Armen Derian, Pauletta DiLecce and Virginia Karafesian.
Sue is survived by her adoring husband Michael Kilijian; devoted daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Thomas Soares; grandchildren Tommy and William Soares; brother-in-law Edward Kaye; sister-in-law Hasma Serverian; Pearl and Bruce Harr; nephew Leon Kaye and the extended Kaye family; her cousin, Diane and her husband, Richard Simsarian and their sons, Kendall and Stephen; and her cousin Denise Takvorian.
Sue passed away peacefully on February 19, 2022 at the Hinds Hospice Home. The family would like to thank Pearl and Bruce Harr; Leon Kaye; Armen and Dan Bacon; Carolyn and Leigh Manoogian; Bill and Margaret Grabe; and Jonathan and Leah Bryant for their loving and unwavering support. The family also thanks Chaplain Michael Fisher; her caregivers Kattie Conway and Renee Rangel; and Mari Martinez. Her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Sue's honor may be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church or Hinds Hospice or the charity of your choice.
A church service will be held at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church on Saturday, March 5th, at 11 AM. The family respectfully requests that everyone who attends be vaccinated or be masked for the safety of our guests and our elders.