Maritza Ohanesian

MARITZA "Mary" DEROIAN BOGOSIAN OHANESIAN, 101, of New Britain, died peacefully Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006 at home. Born March 15, 1905 in the village of Hussenig in Armenia, she was the daughter of the late Hartune and Shushan Deroian. Maritza was the oldest of five children. She was the only survivor in her family from the Armenian Gencide in 1915 by the Turkish Government. She was reunited with her uncle in Hartford Connecticut at the age of 14. In 1924 she married John Bogosian of New Britain, CT. During her early years of marriage she was very active in the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection and other Armenian affairs. She acted in church plays, loved to cook and work in her garden. Many years after her beloved husband John Bogosian died in 1960, she married John Ohanesian. John passed away in Florida after 25 years of marriage. Maritza returned to New Britain to be with her family. She returned to her church and joined the Seniors group of the Church. She loved playing cards and tried never to miss the Seniors Group. Maritza led a very independent life, managed to keep her own apartment, and loved to cook and bake. She kept a sharp mind until the end, always being able to recall names of people and places she had been, even events of her childhood in Hussenig. She maintained an album of all the greeting cards and well wishes she had received for birthdays and during times of illness. Surviving are two daughters, Violet Galazan and her husband Peter of New Britain, and Ann Sadoian of Miami, FL; 4 grandchildren, Victoria Galazan, Antony Galazan and his wife Gail, Julia Nattrass and her husband Robert, and Jennifer Sadoian; three great-grandchildren, Alexandra Nattrass, Grace Galazan, and Ruth Galazan; two Godchildren, Ruth Swisher and Charles Hovsepian; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 9:00 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 S. Main St. and at 10:00 AM at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday today from 7-9 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, with a prayer service to be conducted by Fr. Kapriel at 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrrection, 1910 Stanley St., New Britain, CT 06053 or to the ADL, Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472.