Memorial services for Vachik Gharabegian were held on Saturday–February 7–in Watertown–Massachusetts. He passed away on his 78th birthday on Feb. 4–following a months-long battle with a terminal illness.
Upon realizing the capacity of his illness–Gharabegian requested that he spend his remaining days in the free and independent Armenia and be buried in the shadow of Mt. Ararat. Since his wish was not fulfilled–Gharabegian will be cremated and his ashes will be spread in Yerevan.
Memorial services were officiated by reverends Antranig Baljian and Torkom Hagopian–at the St. Stephanos Armenian Church. Reverend Baljian delivered his eulogy praising Gharabegian’s unsparing patriotic work in the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–from his birthplace in Iran to the United States. Reverend Hagopian read Prelate Mesrob Ashjian’s condolence message to the Gharabegian family.
Because a funeral would not take place–special permission was granted from the Prelacy for lei members to convey their thoughts at the memorial service. Dr. Hratch Abrahamian offered his condolence to the Gharabegian family–the ARF community and the Armenian Diaspora–and presented the ARF Bureau’s message offering its sympathy to Gharabegian’s wife–Genia– and family.
Close friend and colleague of Gharabegian–Norayr Pahlavuni–spoke about Gharabegian’s extensive involvement in civic–public and ARF activities. Pahlavuni also reminisced about Gharabegian’s social and personal life and accomplishmen’s.
ARF Central Committee-Eastern US member Antranig Kasbarian offered words of praise and condolences to Gharabegian.
Flower arrangemen’s from Gharabegian’s family–the ARF Bureau and the ARF Central Committee of the Eastern US adorned the church.