Areknaz Omartian passed to Heaven on April 11 in the loving arms of her family at home. Born on Oct. 12, 1926 to the late Dertad and (Ouzounian) Omartian, she graduated with from Commerce High School and American International College with exceptional honors. Her field of study was mathematics. She was president of her sorority and was a member of the equestrian team.
Arek’s career of many years was with Monsanto Chemical Co.’s Auto Safety Glass Division in Springfield, Mass., where she was an executive research statistician. Based on her national studies showing tremendous increase in auto sales, Monsanto doubled the size of its plant and number of employees. She also participated in nuclear magnetic research.
Angelic and generous, Arek was a lifelong blessing, loved and cared for family members, relatives, and those in need. She was always concerned about the wellbeing of others. Always modest and gentle, she was called “Our Mother Theresa” by the many she quietly served. Her favorite enjoyments were increasing her knowledge, pursuing her Armenian heritage, showering others with her beautiful garden produce, cooking, and gift of giving. She never forgot a birthday, holiday, or anniversary. She was a member of St. Mark’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Springfield where she taught Sunday School, served on numerous committees, and was a member of the Seniors and Ladies Guild.
Her culinary skills were highly esteemed. Most charitable, Arek was always self-sacrificing to help her family and others. Besides her parents, her brother David predeceased her. She leaves her sister Sara, who never left her side during her illness, her brother George and his wife, and her nieces Lisa and Lauren. She also leaves her beloved cousins Robert Margaret, James, Charity, Thomas, Dr. Alissa, Arthur, Karen, John, Carrie, George II, Apkar, Florence, Richard, Ann, and A.J. Omartian; Susan, John, Kim and Sean Hughes; and the Abrahamyan family.
She leaves the memory of her love and gentle caring with the many newcomers to America who she lovingly helped, and will always be remembered as a cherished and second mother.
Friends and extended family gathered at 10:30 a.m. on Wed., April 15 at St. Mark’s Armenian Church in Springfield, and prayed for her soul during the 11 a.m. funeral service. The burial followed in Oak Grove Cemetery, on 426 Bay St. in Springfield.
In lieu of flowers, Arek’s wish was that donations be made to the Arek Omartian Endowment Fund, c/o St. Mark’s Armenian Church (2427 Wilbraham Rd., Springfield, MA 01129), to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children (516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104). Sampson’s Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home in Springfield held the funerary services.
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