Sally Zartar (Simonian) Avakian

passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2016. She was the daughter of Armenian Genocide survivors from Sepastia, Armenia – Kazar and Mariam Simonian. She was the wife of the late Robert Avakian of Cranston, RI for 65 years and the mother of two children – Marian and Robert M. and his wife Carine, and the grandmother of four grandchildren – Michael, Robert III, Alexander and Christina of Bedford, MA. She is survived by her brother Samuel Simonian and his wife Mary of Cranston, RI. She was a lifelong member of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church.

Her mother Mariam was known for her selfless devotion to helping others from their community and Sally was raised with this tradition. Sally was a wonderful combination of elegant and dainty, but was also a lioness for her family - she held a profound Christian faith and inner strength. She was a lifelong seeker of knowledge and worked at the RI Economic Development Council, in the Warwick school system and as a pioneering nutrition counselor to low income families thru URI. She studied Philosophy, Psychology and English at Brown University and was accomplished at tatting, knitting and crochet. She was a member of the Providence Handicraft Club where she completed prayer rugs, Russian icons and portraiture. Her early aspirations included couture design. She was described as being in a ‘class of her own’ based on selflessness, compassion and a positive response to every problem – she was a purveyor of ‘big love’. She was a lover of the NY theatre, poetry, art and waltzing. She was a member of the Daughters of Vartan, Quidnessett CC and the BSO. Her life is a testament to the daily practice of service, Christian faith, family values, intellectual curiosity and elegance – therein was her beauty.

Her Funeral Service to which relatives and friend are invited will be held on Saturday, June 18th at 10:30 a.m. in Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church, Providence, followed by burial at North Burial Ground, Providence.  VISITING HOURS are Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church, 70 Jefferson St., Providence, RI 02908 and Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, 402 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909.