Sarah Yagoobian

Sarah Yagoobian, 98, of New Britain, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005 at Avery Heights Healthcare Center. Sarah Yagoobian was born in New Britain on Feb. 13, 1907 to Thomas and Rose Avedesian Yagoobian. She attended New Britain schools, graduating from New Britain High School with high honors. She studied music at the Hartford School of Music under Ivan Velikanoff and received private instruction under Mrs. Gammons, Music Director of the Wallingford Schools. Clara Oakes Usher, Barbara Hillard, and Ivan Velikanoff were her favorite teachers. She was well known for her activities in Armenian musical, social and religious affairs. She gave recitals in Hartford, Boston, Providence, New Britain and Philadelphia, where critics proclaimed her an accomplished musician with a mezzo-soprano voice of brilliant tone quality. Her recitals were given in Italian, French, Armenian, German and English. She sang in the church choir from the time she was a teenager, and served as Choir Director at the church for 46 years, until her retirement in 1987. She also gave singing lessons. Sarah studied art under Molly Baily, Carl Henry and Doe Bartlett. She was a member of the Art League of Plainville, and her works were displayed in bank windows in New Britain, Plainville, and West Hartford, as well as at the Plainville Public Library. Sarah's musical and art interests were pursued on her personal time, for she always was employed full time. Sarah began her career as a stenographer for the State Highway Department, now the Department of Transportation. She worked her way up through the Department of Transportation, retiring in 1972 as the Executive Assistant of the Transportation Commissioner, after more than 37 years of service. Sarah was a founding member and life member of the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, where her many gifts and services included the Sarah Yagoobian Scholarship. She served for 16 years four terms as a Diocesan Delegate from the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection. Her organization affiliations and memberships included the Armenian Students Association ASA, the Armenian General Benevolent Union AGBU, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization ADL, the Armenian Church Youth Organization ACYOA, and the Women's Guild at church. She was a life member of the NAASR National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and was a member of the New Britain Art League, New Britain Art Museum, Plainville Art League, Meriden Art and Crafts Association, the Hartford Oratorio Society, New Britain Music Club, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Ellis Island Foundation. Sarah's surviving relatives include her sister, Mary Arakelian; cousins, Harry Caroglanian and Elizabeth Caroglanian Golden; many nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Arshaloos Hoosigian, a brother, Jack Yagoobian, and her cousin, Anthony Caraglanian Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9:00 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 S. Main St., New Britain and at 10:00 AM at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, 1910 Stanley St., New Britain, CT 06053. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday evening from 6-8 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Armenian church of the Holy Resurrection or the ADL.