Vera Orbelian

1918 - 2015

Vera Orbelian

Vera Orbelian, nee Voznesenskaya. Born August 24th, 1918 in Kharkov, Ukraine; died May 8th, 2015 in San Rafael, California. She was 96 years old.
Vera graduated from the Kharkov Medical Institute No. 1 in June of 1941 as an obstetrician and gynecologist. Her profession helped her to survive the horrors of the German occupation of Ukraine and, when the Germans retreated, to work in Nazi labor camps in Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia and finally in Germany itself. Vera found herself in the American Zone of occupied Germany in the spring of 1945 and met her future husband Harry Orbelian at the Funkerkaserne Camp for Displaced persons in Stuttgart.
Vera immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1948 with her young daughter Helen. She found employment at Dr. Leff's Maternity Hospital in Bronx, NY and then St. Claire's Hospital in New York City.
Vera married Harry in 1953 after the couple settled in San Francisco. She worked at Mt. Zion Hospital in the early 1950s in their research laboratory, and Harry worked at the famous GUMPS department store.
Vera was a uniquely gifted person whose positive outlook on life, energy, and devotion to her family, propelled her husband Harry to amass a large real estate portfolio in downtown San Francisco. She was a devoted daughter to her parents, who remained in Ukraine, and a loving, devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was proud of her husband's success as well as her children's achievements and did everything she could to nurture and support her family. Vera was always there, always willing to listen, and never judgmental. She always boasted that her greatest achievement was her wonderful family.
In 2006, Russian Consul General Victor Lizun presented both Harry and Vera Orbelian with Medals of Honor from Governor Aiman Tuleev of the Kuzbass Region of Russia for their "Exceptional role as parents and role models for their children." The Honor was the first ever to be given to citizens of the USA.
Vera Orbelian is survived by three children: Helen Burns (Gerard W. Burns) , Constantine Orbelian (Maria Safariants) and George Orbelian (Marcia P. Orbelian); six grandchildren: Kim Turner (Carson Turner) , Monica Burns, Elizabeth Burns, Gevork Orbelian, Wade Orbelian and Craig Orbelian; and two great-grandchildren, Reece Turner and Remy Turner.
Vera was predeceased by her beloved husband Harry Orbelian in 2006.
There will be a private ceremony for the family.
We will be having a celebration of Harry and Vera Orbelian life to be announced.
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