Mary Sahakian

Mary Sahakian passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025 peacefully in her sleep. She was 101 years old, born on June 23, 1923 to Samuel and Nazane Santerian in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the eldest of two daughters. Her younger sister Viola was born three years later.



Mary was born pre-mature at 7 months and spent her childhood growing up in Philadelphia. In 1941, she graduated from Kensington High School. Later that year, around New Year's Eve, Mary was hospitalized with appendicitis. While she was in the hospital, her sister Viola, went to their church's New Year's Eve dinner dance where she met a boy named John Sahakian. Viola mentioned to John, that her sister was in the hospital and soon to be released following surgery. John gallantly offered his car to pick her up when she was released. Well, it was love at first sight for the both of them and five months later, on May 17, 1942, on a very rainy day, they were married.



That same year, they set up housekeeping with John's parents, Kerop and Aghavni (Helen) Sahakian and four of his brothers, Harry, Sam, Charlie and the youngest, Nazar, who was five years old at the time. John's older brother, Joe, was away serving in WWII. Several months later, in February of 1943, John was drafted into the U.S. Army and went to serve overseas in the war for three years. During John's first year of service, Mary gave birth to their oldest daughter, Rosemary. Mary stayed busy, back home, taking care of Rosemary and helping out with John's younger brothers. A few years after John's return from WWII, their second daughter, Lillian was born.



It was in 1947 that Mary's father-in-law, Kerop, traveled to California to visit his married daughter, Aghavni Terzian, in Fresno. He loved the area and weather so much, that he decided to relocate the entire Sahakian family to Fresno. Once they settled in Fresno, John built two homes for the families to live in, and they opened a small grocery store in southeast Fresno on the corner of Maple and Jensen. The family, including Mary, worked in the grocery store to make it a success. Mary, having a sharp mind for numbers, took care of the books and could always be found running the cash register. When John started his refrigeration repair business Mary was by his side, running the books, and years later when John started raisin farming, once again, Mary helped out with the payroll and finances while John farmed.



Years later, in 1963, during the planning of Rosemary's wedding to Kay Paboojian Jr., Mary became pregnant with John Jr. Due to Mary's pregnancy, they moved their June 1964 wedding up to December 21, 1963. Several months later, their youngest son, John Jr. was born.



In 1979, while on a visit to Fresno from Philadelphia, Mary's mother Nellie had a severe stroke. From then on, Mary kept her mother here in Fresno and had her admitted to the California Armenian Home. She faithfully made her daily visits to her mother for 12 years, until her passing in 1991. Mary was known at the Armenian Home, to many, as an angel of mercy. She recognized the needs of other patients and tried to fulfill them; whether it was getting a glass of water or running for the nurse, or getting a snack if it was allowed, she took care of it.



Over the years, Mary was a devoted and active member of the St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church Ladies Society where she served one year as president. In 2022, a day before her 99th birthday, she was honored for her 50 years of service to the St. Paul Ladies Society and she was ecstatic! She loved her church and always enjoyed going to the Ladies Society Christmas Luncheons, St. Paul's Annual Armenian Festival and always enjoyed and looked forward to going to all the churches blessing of the grape picnics at the Armenian Home. In addition to serving at her church, Mary was very active and served as treasurer for the California Armenian Home Guild for 8 years and attended their meetings until she was 99 years old.



Mary was also a very good cook and enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve at her home for the Sahakian families. Through the years, it was always a tradition for her children and grandchildren to come over for Christmas breakfast where she always made her delicious choreg to go along with the classic breakfast fixings followed by opening mountains of Christmas gifts she generously bought for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.



Aside from cooking, Mary was also talented and loved to knit. Her children and grandchildren and many of her friends and relatives have one of her beautifully knitted afghans. She would often donate her afghans to be raffled off at the Armenian Home Guild fundraisers and St. Paul Ladies Society luncheons.



Another thing that Mary was known for and enjoyed tremendously was gambling and the horse races. She and her mother-in-law, Helen, would go to the fair together to watch and bet on the horse races. Both of them really loved the horse races. The two of them would also go to Lake Tahoe as often as the bus or her husband John, would take them. Later when John retired from farming, he and Mary would go to Table Mountain several times a week to gamble. She was such a good customer, that when she turned 100 years old, her niece, JoAnn, called Table Mountain and asked if they would do something special for Mary for her 100th birthday. They said, "Sure, bring her over." When the family brought her there, over 30 Table Mountain employees sang "Happy Birthday" to her and surprised her with a spread of food, two cakes and her name on a big screen along with a $100 gift card to gamble with. She was over the moon!



In 2011, John and Mary's children threw them a wonderful 69th wedding anniversary party. A week after the party, John lost his way and passed away in a car accident in Paso Robles. She missed John dearly. They spent every day together. She missed going to Table Mountain with him and eating out at Hometown Buffet with him. She, herself, drove until the age of 91 and was not happy when she couldn't drive anymore but she made the best of it like she always did with everything. She enjoyed watching classic movies, the Game Show Network, Dr. Phil, the Antique Roadshow, The Price is Right, and The Young and the Restless.



Mary had a zest for life and her mind was sharp until the end. Her generosity knew no bounds. She always remembered everyone's birthday and always sent all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren cards with something in them. She loved and cared about her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and all of her relatives and friends as well, and was always proud of their accomplishments. They all, in turn, loved her very much and she will be dearly missed.



Mary was preceded in death by her husband, John Sahakian, sister, Viola Karagheuzian, son-in-law, Kay Paboojian Jr., and nephew, Paul Sahakian. She is survived by her children, Rosemary Paboojian, Lillian Avakian and her husband Vernon, John Sahakian Jr. and his wife Asthik; Grandchildren: Paul Paboojian and his wife Melinda, Aliene Paboojian, Brian Paboojian and his wife Anthonette, Michael Avakian and his wife Amanda, Alan Avakian, Brandon Avakian and his wife Angela, Emily and Gregory Sahakian; Great Grandchildren: Justin, Jaden and Anyssia Paboojian, Jacob, Kaitlyn, Emma, Logan, Tyler and Ryan Avakian. Brother-in-law, Nazar Sahakian and his wife Pauline and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank all the skilled nursing staff at the Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens for the wonderful care they gave to Mary.



Viewing will take place on Monday, May 26, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Yost and Webb Funeral Home 1002 T Street, Fresno, CA



Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church 3767 N. First Street, Fresno, CA



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church 3767 N. First Street, Fresno, CA 93726 or the donor's favorite charity.