Stasia B. Hovenesian

Stasia B. Hovenesian of Worcester, beloved wife of the late Aaron K. Hovenesian, passed peacefully on June 2, 2024, at the age of 93.

Born in Keramidia, Greece to Nicholas and Stassa Bonduves, she came to this country at the age of six.

Stasia was the loving and devoted mother of Diane Hovenesian (Robert Berry) of Walpole, Patrice Hovenesian (James Sivco) of Sandwich, and Jay Hovenesian of Chestnut Hill.  She cherished and adored being yiayia to Rab (Al), Nicholas (Madalyne), and Evan Berry; Stacy, Tory and Andrew Sivco; and Elijah Hovenesian and great yiayia to Xavier and Viviana.  

She graduated from North High School and received her BA from Boston University, where she became the first woman elected as a class president.  With a keen business mind and an incisive intellect, Stasia broke the glass ceiling in 1973 when she was named Executive Director of Worcester County Music Association (now Music Worcester, Inc.), the first woman to occupy that post since the Association’s founding in 1858. She was a role model to young women of her daughters’ generation as a champion and pioneer for women leaders in the workplace. Her brilliant career focused on keeping the arts alive and vibrant in Worcester by bringing the best symphony orchestras, dance, opera, and musical arts of all kinds. She retired in 2013 at the age of 82 with a treasure trove of great stories of the famous and infamous artists she brought to Mechanics Hall, the Auditorium, and the Hanover Theater (of which she was a Founding Member).

A true patron and supporter of the arts, she devoted her time, resources, and enthusiasm to enriching the cultural life of Worcester by also serving as a director on numerous boards (including Hanover Center for the Performing Arts, Hellenic Arts Society, and Worcester Cultural Commission). She was the recipient of awards that are too numerous to count.

Stasia was a member of St. Spyridon’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral and was proud of her Greek heritage and culture with its emphasis on philotimo, love of family, and good food. She was a voracious reader and loved escaping to her Cape Cod beach house to walk along the water’s edge and soak up the sun. She was very hard to beat at Scrabble.  

Her family and friends will remember her strength, resilience, honesty, and her delicious cooking.

The family wishes to thank Shanon Sweeney and her staff on the third floor at Eisenberg Assisted Living and the staff at Jewish Healthcare for their tender care of Stasia.

Visiting hours are Thursday, June 6 from 9:30 to 11:30 am at St Spyridon’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell Street, Worcester with the funeral immediately following.  Burial will be at Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Music Worcester, Inc – Hovenesian Fund, 19 Main Street, Mechanics Hall, Worcester or St. Spyridon’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Callahan,Fay  & Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street is directing funeral arrangements.