Sonia M. Ohanian

Sonia Ohanian (Mooradian) formerly of New Britain, CT, presently of Berlin, CT, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2023 with her adoring daughters, Linda, Maryann, and Paula, by her side. She was predeceased by her loving husband Paul J. Ohanian, in 2006, and her young son, John P. Ohanian in 1956. She was also the much-loved grandmother of Deanna, Aram, Justin, Jordan, Meghan, Michael, and Ben, and great-grandmother to Yenok, Michael Jr., Olivia, Chloe, Karina, Mariam, and Hudson.

Sonia was the devoted daughter of the late Peter and Mary (Hovsepian) Mooradian of New Britain, CT, cherished sister of Margaret Maroun, and the late Charles Mooradian, and Oscar Moradian, loved sister-in law of Mike Maroun, and Elizabeth Surabian, and the late Violet Mooradian, Margaret (“Peggy”) Moradian, Sarah Kalajian, Peter Kalajian, Harry Ohanian, and Sarkis Surabian. She was a very special mother-in-law to Eric Pare. Sonia was blessed with three generations of loving nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her best friend of 80 years, Rose Hovanesian Mosey.

Sonia was a doer. She greatly valued her family, and worked hard to ensure large, and loving family get togethers, where everyone always enjoyed her traditional and Armenian cooking. Sonia was always happy to comply whenever a family member requested that she make a special item when they came to visit, or for the holidays. Yalanchi, Choreg, Paklava, and Pilaf were her signature items, and enjoyed by her entire family.

She raised her daughters with a dedication and service to their Armenian church, and community organizations. Sonia was a fifty plus years member of the church choir of the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, and co-chair, advisor and member of the Women’s Guild of her church. Sonia was a co-recipient, with Rose, of the Parishioner of the Year award in 2004. Sonia was a person of deep faith, and attended church on a weekly basis when health allowed. She was able to recite the entire church service, and knew all religious hymns by heart. Over several years, she crocheted/knitted scarves, hats, and gloves for those in need, and was part of a sandwich making group that assembled lunches for the Friendship Center of New Britain.

Sonia was very proud of her professional affiliation with a number of medical centers/hospitals in the area, and in particular her work as a pediatric LPN at the Newington Children’s Hospital in the decades before her retirement in the early 1990’s. She most enjoyed working with young patients afflicted with serious illness, and treated each one as if they were her own child, providing love, sternness, and practicality, when required. Sonia’s colleagues respected her greatly for her dedication, strong work ethic, and friendship, and she gathered regularly with her colleagues, even well after retirement, where they reminisced about “the old days”, and caught up on personal news.  She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Visiting hours will take place on Wednesday, November 15 from 5-8 pm, at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, 1910 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 10:00 am at church. Burial will take place at Fairview Cemetery, New Britain, immediately following church services. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Sonia’s memory to the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection.