Agnes (Safarian) Haroian

Agnes (Safarian) Haroian, 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester, MA, after onset of a sudden illness. Born November 8, 1928, daughter of Mesrop & Dzaghig Safarian, in East St. Louis, IL, she excelled in school, and was Valedictorian of her graduating class at East St. Louis High School. After graduation, she took a position as Executive Secretary to the Chief Metallurgist of American Zinc Co.

In 1952, Agnes married Vahan Haroian, of Granite City, IL. They purchased a home in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO, and they had two children, Nancy & Edward. Agnes & Vahan were actively involved in civic, school, business, and church organizations, with a strong affiliation to St. Gregory's Armenian Apostolic Church in Granite City, where she served as Soloist in the choir for decades. In later years, Agnes also served as school crossing guard in the same neighborhood where her children had attended elementary school, and was adored by all. Agnes remained in the family home, even after the sudden passing of her beloved husband in 1983, followed by the death of her mother in 1991, until the summer of 1993, when she lost the home to the "100-year floods" in the Midwest.

In 1994, she packed up, moving halfway across the country to Massachusetts, where she lived in the Leominster area for 20+ years, before moving to Worcester in 2015. Always passionate about music, Agnes was a Charter Member of the Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale, and performing with the group was one of her favorite activities.

The greatest source of joy in Agnes' life was her family. She doted on her grandchildren, but was overjoyed when she became a great-grandmother, and matriarch of four generations, in 2012. The presence of her great-grandchildren could always make her smile, even on bad days, and in the final days of her life, during her hospital stay, a kiss on the nose from her great-grandson evoked the biggest reaction of all.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, Vahan "Bunno" Haroian; her father, Mesrop Safarian; her step-father, Armenag Asadourian; her mother, Dzaghig "Rose" (Stepanian) Asadourian; her father-in-law, Arsen Haroian; her mother-in-law, Parantzem (Amiryan) Haroian; her brothers-in-law, Vasken "Bucko" Haroian & Vahram "Ben" Haroian; her sister-in-law, Satenig "Satne" (Tourajigian) Haroian, and her niece, Pamela (Throne) Atkinson.

Agnes is survived by: daughter, Nancy (Haroian) Tashjian & son-in-law, Richard, of Sterling, MA; son, Edward Haroian & daughter-in-law, Laura (Mullen), of Chesterfield, MO; grandchildren: Christopher Tashjian & significant other, Brianne Killoran, of Woburn, MA; Nicholas Tashjian of Chandler, AZ; Christina (Tashjian) Holman & husband, Keith, of Marlboro, MA; Allison (Haroian) Stauder & husband, Zach, of O'Fallon, MO; Ani Haroian of Kansas City, MO; great-grandchildren: Alexandra & Maxwell Holman, Julia & Dominic Stauder. Also: brother, Leon Asadourian, MD & wife, Joan (Jackson), of Carefree, AZ; sisters-in-law: Mary (Derderian) Haroian of Glen Carbon, IL; Vee (Haroian) Throne of Plainfield, IL; Rose (Haroian) Karentz & husband, Varoujan, of Jamestown, RI; cousin, Carl Stepanian & wife, Helen (Koch), of Canton, MI; and many nieces & nephews.

Family & friends may pay their respects at calling hours to be held at Callahan, Fay & Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle St, Worcester, MA, on Monday, March 11, 2019, from 5-8 p.m., with a Dan Gark service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services & burial will take place in the St. Louis, MO area on Saturday, March 16, 2019, per Agnes' wishes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale, and mailed to the chorale c/o Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 OR to Rose Monahan Hospice Home, 10 Judith Road, Worcester, MA 01602.