Jennie S. Vartabedian (1911-2010)

Haverhill’s Last Genocide Survivor

HAVERHILL, Mass.—Jennie S. (Hekimian) Vartabedian, 98, the last remaining survivor of the Armenian Genocide in Haverhill, died Tuesday at the Hannah Duston Longterm Health Care Center, 126 Monument St., with her family by her side.

She was born in Dikranagert (Diyarbakir), Armenia, on Dec. 11, 1911, daughter of Missak and Vartouhi (Yadejanian) Hekimian, and lived in Somerville most of her life after immigrating to America as an eight-year-old.

She was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, taking part in annual commemorations throughout Merrimack Valley and serving as an activist for her nation’s cause right to her death.

Last year, she was honored by her community, at which time a video had been prepared of her life as a genocide survivor. The documentary was also shown to residents at her nursing home, attended by city and state officials.

Mrs. Vartabedian spent her childhood years in Newton Upper Falls and was educated in the Needham Schools. She and her sister, the late Virginia Fundeklian, also a genocide survivor, ran Jennie’s Sweet Shop in Porter Square, Cambridge, from 1931-35 while in their teenaged years to help meet family expenses.

After marrying her husband, Edward K., in 1939, the two owned and operated Broadway Coffee Shop in Somerville for 30 years until becoming widowed in 1975.

In later years, up to age 80, Mrs. Vartabedian worked as a medical technician at the Somerville Council on Aging, giving blood pressure readings to the elderly and assisting them with tax returns.

For years, she sponsored a memorial scholarship in her husband’s name to Somerville High graduates furthering their education in the business arena. She made it a point to meet each graduate, wished them well in their future endeavors, and made a presentation of both a monetary gift as well as a plaque. Many grateful recipients returned to acknowledge the gesture.

She had often maintained that a proper education was the foundation of success and impressed that tenet upon her two sons and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Vartabedian was a longtime member of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church of Cambridge and later Belmont, serving as both a benefactor and catalyst in her earlier years. She catered to many religious elite inside the comfort of her home with sumptuous Armenian dining. Among her guests was the late Cardinal Gregory Peter Agagianian, patriarch of all Armenians.

For nearly two decades, she ranked as the oldest member of Health Works, a fitness center in Cambridge, and received a gold membership card. At the ripe age of 90, she still made daily trips to the gym by car and kept in peak physical condition.

If you unraveled her past to find clues of her longevity, she would preface her memories with this: “I always worked hard and looked to God for inspiration.”

Among her other interests were reading, cooking, managing investments, caring for a two-family home, and enjoying her family. Her greatest asset was remaining young at heart and maintaining a pleasant disposition, even under duress.

Mrs. Vartabedian’s whole family wishes to thank the staff at Hannah Duston Nursing Home for treating her as if she were one of their own family members. The staff, nurses, doctors, and activities personnel were all very gentle and caring throughout her four years there. Also singled out is the fine care she received from Brookhaven Hospice during the final days of her life.

She leaves her son, Thomas M. Vartabedian and his wife Nancy, Haverhill; a daughter-in-law, Rita Vartabedian, Arlington; five grandchildren, Lisa Untracht and her husband Zachary (Chelmsford), Michael Vartabedian and his wife Katy (Medford), Sonya Vartabedian Sico and her husband Pasquale (Amesbury), Ara Vartabedian and his wife Julie (Hudson), and Raffi Vartabedian and his wife Sarah (Auburn); eight great-grandchildren, Amanda and Michael Untracht, and Maya, Benjamin, Rocco, Rex, Anna, and Mazie Vartabedian; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was the mother of the late Edward C. Vartabedian, who died in 2000.

Her funeral will take place Saturday morning at 10 from the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn St., Watertown, followed by a Mass at 11 in Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church, 200 Lexington St., Belmont.

Calling hours at the funeral home will take place Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Gregory Armenian Church Renovation Fund, 158 Main St., North Andover, MA 01845; Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church, 200 Lexington St., Belmont, MA 02178; or Hannah Duston Activities Fund, 126 Monument St., Haverhill, MA 01832.