Norman Sivazlian

WORCESTER-Norman Anthony Sivazlian, 68, of Worcester, MA, passed away at UMass Medical Center in Worcester on September 30, 2024, following a long illness. Norman has reunited with his parents, Abraham and Lucy (Pashoian) Sivazlian, who predeceased him.

He leaves behind two sons, Robert Sivazlian and his wife, Cara (Loughlin) Sivazlian, of Worcester, and Stephen Sivazlian of Marlborough, his cherished grandson, Ethan Sivazlian (son of Robert and Cara), and his former wife of many years, Marcia (Isakson) Sivazlian. He also leaves behind a sister, Dorothy Sivazlian, and her husband, Paul Raybin, of Walnut Creek, California, and a brother, Mark Sivazlian and his wife, Jo Ann (Merzigian) Sivazlian, of Worcester. He is also survived by many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Norman graduated from Burncoat Senior High School in 1974 and went on to attend Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. There, he honed his cooking talents. Throughout his career, he worked at various restaurants in the region, serving as head chef at Hahnemann Hospital in Worcester for many years. In later years, he became a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 63, working for the New England Roofing Company and Crocker Architectural, among others, until his retirement.

Norman found joy in spending time with his family, especially his new grandson. He shared his love for cooking with everyone around him and enjoyed gardening throughout his life. A joyful musician, he often played bass guitar to classic rock tunes with friends on Friday nights. He was a proud member of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour in Worcester and valued his cultural heritage and the traditions that came with it. He served the church as an acolyte, Sunday School graduate, and registered Boy Scout there, which earned him the prestigious Armenian Church of America Ararat Medal. As a kidney transplant survivor, Norman co-authored a forum for transplant recipients, using his experiences to help others who faced similar challenges. He will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, and devotion to family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

The family would like to thank the staff at UMass Medical Hospital for their care and support during Norman’s final days. In addition, Norman’s family wish to thank his much respected physician, Dr. Pang-Yen Fan, for all the years he cared and guided him.

A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, October 16th at 11:00 AM, at the Armenian Church of Our Saviour located at 87 Salisbury Street in Worcester. Burial will take place at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.