Violet Kasparian

Violet A. Kasparian, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 96, on March 16, 2024. Born a fraternal twin, with sister Margaret, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of the late Harry and Yeranouhi.
She graduated from Evanston High School two years early at the age of 16. She was accepted at and took classes at Northwestern University while working as a secretary and stenographer for the US Army. Violet attended St. James Armenian Church of Evanston, Illinois. She sang in the church choir and was an active member of the Armenian Church Youth Organization.
In 1951, she married Rev. Arnak Kasparian and moved to New Britain, Connecticut. When Fr. Arnak was assigned as assistant pastor at St. John Armenian Church, she moved to Detroit, Michigan. She acted as church secretary while raising four children in Detroit.
In 1962, she moved to New Jersey after her husband accepted the pastorate at St. Thomas Armenian Church in Tenafly. Having a great love for teaching, she assumed the duties as the superintendent of the Sunday school, as well as a Sunday school and Armenian language schoolteacher.
She played an active role in many church organizations and activities throughout the years, including Women's Guild member and chairwoman, church choir member, and volunteering at annual church picnics and bazaars. She was also a member of the Daughters of Vartan (a charitable organization serving the Armenian people worldwide).
She later joined St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, and was an active member there for years, as well as a member of the Women's Guild and Sunday School. During her later years she recited Bible stories and lessons to the entire Sunday school before classes began.
In 2010, Violet was the recipient of the Guild's first Women of Wonder (WOW) Award for her lifetime of untiring service and contribution to the Women's Guild and the Armenian Church community, including 18 years of devoted work with the School Bag Project. The impetus for this project was the devastating earthquake that struck Armenia in 1988. This tragedy destroyed many schools and had long term effects on Armenia's educational system. Violet wanted all children to have educational opportunities. For this reason, she conceived, initiated, and realized this project that she held so dear. For this project she requested and received monetary donations, approached local businesses, appealing for, and receiving large quantities of free school supplies, and coordinated volunteers to pack and prepare for international shipping many thousands of school bags to various regions within Armenia that were most effected by the earthquake.
After nine years of night school in New Jersey, Violet earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from William Patterson College in 1971. Having volunteered at a Tenafly school library, she was hired as an elementary school librarian by the Tenafly Board of Education. She continued her education with a Master's Degree in Media from Seton Hall University in 1975. She also earned an additional 40 credits in her post graduate studies.
While active with her church community, Violet was also active in her professional life. She was very involved with and proud of her Maugham and Stillman School activities and community, always receiving high praise on her annual reviews. She loved working with children, always finding ways to add fun and the love of learning to their lives. After 25 years, Violet retired from teaching in 1993 due to her worsening retinitis pigmentosa, which slowly progressed and limited her eyesight, ultimately leading to total blindness.
Violet had a dynamic personality and was always full of energy. When not busy helping or doing for her family or community, she enjoyed knitting, keeping physically fit, and cooking, often trying new recipes and perfecting older, traditional ones. She had a sweet tooth and loved her ice cream sundaes, butter pecan ice cream, and Turtle pecan cluster candies.
The Jersey Shore was her happy place. She loved being down in Manahawkin surrounded by family and friends. She never let her loss of sight get her down or slow her down. She continued all her hobbies and activities throughout her life, often surprising others when they realized she couldn't see.
During her retirement years, she happily accompanied her husband on many trips to mission parishes throughout the United States. She was a devoted wife of the late Rev. Arnak Kasparian to whom she was married for 67 years, until he passed in 2017.
Loving mother of Stephen (Janet) Kasparian, Laurie (Randall) Preston, Maro Kasparian, Ardis (Robert) Waldron, and Thomas Kasparian; dear grandmother of Maria (Mazinho), Laura (Benjamin), Elena, Samuel, Trevor, Jacob, Micaela, Minas, and Matthew; great-grandmother of Alden. Sister of Margaret Stepanian and Sara "Zarook" Cooper. Sadly, in addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her children Arden and Susan, and by her elder brother George.
Calling hours will be Thursday, March 21, from 4 until 8 p.m. at St. Leon Armenian Church, 12-61 Saddle River Road #369, Fair Lawn. Funeral services will be on Friday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leon Armenian Church, 12-61 Saddle River Road #369, Fair Lawn. Interment will follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. In lieu of flowers COAF.org