Vartoog "Rose" Asadourian

PLATTSBURGH — Vartoog "Rose" Asadourian, 99, of Holland Avenue, died Thursday evening, March 5, 2009, at the CVPH Medical Center surrounded by her family.

Rose was born in New York City Dec. 29, 1909, the daughter of Harutoun and Annie Proodian. She attended public school in New York City and graduated from Washington Irving High School in her beloved Manhattan. After high school, Rose worked for the New York Telephone Company in their accounting department. On June 6, 1937, she married a fellow Armenian, Martin Asadourian, who had immigrated to the United States after being orphaned in the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and who, at that time, had a tailor shop in Greenwich Village in New York City. Her two oldest children, Ara Asadourian and Susan Gillman, were born in New York City.

In 1942, Rose, her husband and two children moved to Plattsburgh, N.Y., where her husband was employed at Spiegel's Dry Cleaners. Rose and Martin had three more children, Vivian, Martin and Audrey. From 1942 until 1956, when her husband opened his own tailor shop known as "Martin Tailors" on Oak Street in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Rose was a full-time mother. During that period she was also extremely active in the Plattsburgh City School District Parent-Teachers Association, becoming president of that organization. Her proudest achievement from her PTA involvement occurred in 1960 when, through her determined efforts, the Plattsburgh City School Board finally decided to furnish books for their students, many of whom, until that time, went into October and November of the school year before they had all their books. In 1956, after her husband opened his own tailor shop, Rose became his partner working side by side in the tailor shop.

The two great tragedies in her life occurred in 1967 and 1969, when first her son Martin died in an auto accident and in 1969 when her husband Martin passed away. After her husband's death in 1969, Rose successfully continued the tailor shop business until her retirement in 1971.

Upon closing the tailor shop, Rose began a multi-year career teaching English as a second language at Plattsburgh High School, where she made many life-long friends and was widely loved and admired by her colleagues and students.

Also, after retiring from the tailor shop, Rose began what became 25 years of volunteer work at CVPH Medical Center with the CVPH Women's Auxiliary, including untold hours behind the counter at the "coffee shop" and becoming a very active member of the CVPH Women's Auxiliary, which she served as treasurer of the gift shop for over 20 years, finally retiring from her volunteer work after turning 90 years of age.

Throughout her life, her primary devotion was to her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Through her radiance, her love and her will, she kept her family whole. There is no way to describe how much she will be missed.

Survivors include one son, Ara Asadourian and his wife JoAnne of Plattsburgh; three daughters, Susan Gillman and her husband Allen of Piscataway, N.J., Vivian Marin and her husband Ernest of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Audrey DuBrey and her companion Donald Liberty of Saranac; 11 grandchildren, Amy Senecal of Plattsburgh, Elizabeth Asadourian of Loudenville, N.Y., Julie Kozelian of Belmont, Mass., Justin Gillman of Metuchen, N.J., Sarah Gillman of Brooklyn, N.Y., Judah Gillman of Highland Park, N.J., Kevin DuBrey of West Palm Beach, Fla., Lionel DuBrey of Albany, Holly DuBrey of Plattsburgh, Autumn DuBrey of Plattsburgh and Stephanie Purcell of Plattsburgh; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her son, Martin Asadourian; her brother, Haig Proodian; and her sister, Virginia Proodian.

Calling hours will be held Saturday, March 7, 2009, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court St., Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will be held Sunday at noon in the Robert W. Walker Memorial Chapel.

Burial will be in the spring in Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Memorial donations may be made to the CVPH Auxiliary, c/o of The CVPH Foundation, 75 Beekman St., Plattsburgh.

Online condolences may be made at www.pressrepublican.com.