Lucy Bogosian

Lucy (Balian) Bogosian, 86, of Canton, Michigan, formerly of Worcester, MA passed away on June 27, 2015, at home surrounded by her loving family after a short illness. She was born on June 2nd, 1929 in Drama, Greece, the daughter of the late Principal Arsen Balian and Koharig (Parseghian) Balian. She is predeceased by two brothers, Armen and Stepan Balian. She was the wife of the late Nishan Bogosian of Worcester, MA who passed away in 1983. She is predeceased by her best friend Goula Ekizian (Greece) who passed away in February, 2015.


Lucy is survived by two daughters, Anahid (Garabed) Takessian and Asdhig (Vartan) Takessian, three grandchildren, Ani, Talar and Garen Takessian all of Canton, MI, a sister-in-law Mary Balian (Worcester, MA), three nieces, Arsine (Krikor) Sahverdiyan (Worc.MA), Koharig (Hagop) Kochian (Worc,MA), Armine Papakou(Greece) and their families, Makris, Tickner, Jermakian and Haxhi, her first cousins and their families, Balian(Argentina), Mazloumian(Greece), Yaghmourian(California, Lebanon, Massachusetts), Parseghian(Lebanon, Massachusetts, California), Srabonian(Lebanon). Terzian(Canada), Yazijian(Canada, Massachusetts), Zartarian(Massachusetts), Habibian (Worcester, MA), Baykian & Daiyan(Michigan) and godparents to her daughters the Andrianopoulos family(Worcester, MA).


Due to her father's profession as a professor/principal her earlier years were spent in many cities, Drama, Greece, Alexandria, Egypt, and northern Greece and while there, their family suffered the loss of her 16 year old brother, Armen. Being so difficult to remain there, her father took on a new position as Principal of the Zavarian Armenian School in Kokkinia, Greece where she grew up in a close knit Armenian community and had most of her schooling. In 1944 after the death of her father and bad economic times in Greece due to World War II, she, her mother and brother along with many Armenian families from Greece walked for three months to find employment in Austria and Germany. It was a difficult journey for a 14 year old and she remembered the horrific sounds of bombings and fear on a daily basis having to take shelter in caves. They lived there for 18 months and as the war ended they were able to return to their home town of Kokkinia, Greece.


In 1947 Lucy and her mother left Greece to go to Beirut, Lebanon. They lived with her uncle's family (Parseghian). She worked as a nanny there for two Armenian doctors for 4 years, while her mother was a cook in a local hospital. In 1951 she and her mother returned to Greece where her brother and his family resided. At this time she was taught how to sew and repair hosiery and stockings and had a small shop to help her mother with finances. Lucy was a member of the Armenian Youth Federation, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Relief Society, Homenetmen, Hamazkain, Armenian Protestant Youth Group all of Kokkinia, Greece. As a young child she was taught to always help people in any way possible. She watched her parents care for and educate the Armenian orphans in the orphanage that her father dedicated his time to.


She met and married her husband Nishan Bogosian, who was vacationing in Greece from Worcester, MA in the summer of July, 1963. She immediately felt a connection with him when he told her that he had grown up in an orphanage when he lost both of his parents at the age of 5 in his homeland of Yerevan, Armenia. In November of 1963, leaving her family in Greece, Lucy arrived in America, Boston, MA and she and Nishan lived in Worcester, MA where they began their life together raising two daughters. Nishan had many family members there, who treated Lucy as their own. They welcomed her with open arms and she felt their genuine love, Nigoghosian, Vartanian, Barsamian, Kasparian, Varteresian, DerKazarian, Adamian and Caroglanian families. Her husband, Nishan worked at Table Talk Pies for 32 years and retired in 1980.
She and her husband were highly respected in their Armenian community, they were members of the Armenian Holy Trinity Church and involved in many Armenian activities and they were members of the German Club of Worcester, MA. She was a member of the ARS of Worcester, MA. Lucy and Nishan taught their children by example, treating people with respect, helping in simple ways, whether it being driving friends to church functions or to the grocery store. Lucy's whole life was devoted to her family, making sure they were loved and happy. She kept her home immaculate and took pride in that. She was an impeccable dresser, making sure her outfits matched from head to toe. She was a wonderful homemaker and learned to cook from her mother. She lived in Worcester, MA for 30 years and truly felt the comfort and love of a hometown with many friends from the Armenian Community and her neighbors on Bell Hill, she referred to all of them as her "Worcester family." She loved taking walks with her mother and her children to Green Hill Park on a daily basis and gather with special friends, enjoying the simple gifts of life.
She was the type of person who liked to be organized, making sure her children were well taken care of in every way, putting their needs first. She took great pride in being a mother and her children felt the unconditional love from both of their parents. She spoke many languages, Armenian, Greek, Turkish, English and some French and German. She loved culture and was always eager to learn more.


In 1993 she moved to Michigan where both her daughters resided. She was blessed with three grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She attended every school event and continued her wonderful mothering skills every day by greeting them with a home cooked meal after school and so much more. She taught them the importance of family and culture.


Lucy was a people person, had many cousins and friends all over the world who she kept in touch with. She made everyone feel special. She loved life, loved laughter and smiled every day. She had a special talent of bringing two Armenians together. In her lifetime she loved being a matchmaker and introduced 25 single Armenians who are married to this day. She made sure the Armenian population grew and did her small part in creating more Armenians which made her very proud.


Lucy lived a wonderful life where she was always surrounded by love and would tell her family not to be sad when she passes but to feel blessed that she had a beautiful life and a beautiful family.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 7 at the Armenian Apostolic Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove Street. Worcester, MA. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery, Worcester, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Armenian Apostolic Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove Street. Worcester, MA 01605.


Arrangements are in the care of CALLAHAN FAY CASWELL FUNERAL HOME, 61 Myrtle Street, Worcester.