Tamara Khatchatourian

Mom was born in the 1920s in a port city by the Caspian Sea. She was the eldest of three siblings and the last surviving member of her family. After she finished high school she moved to Tehran ahead of her family, where she found a job at a pharmaceutical company as an accounting clerk.

Legend has it that soon, in a circle of friends, she met dad. They were friends at first then they fell in love, became engaged and were married in November 1954. She told us that one of the many reasons she fell in love with dad was that he was a very good dancer. Years later, when I was a young child, I remember watching them dance the Tango together on family occasions and celebrations. Marina once asked dad why he fell in love with mom and he said that it was her charm and grace.

Mom and dad were happily married for over 60 years, had 3 children, 6 grand children and their life journey spanned 3 continents. They had entirely different personalities but they were like two peas in a pod, they were like a nut and bolt, they were like salt and pepper, in other words they were a perfect fit together. They loved and respected each other until their dying days. So it is almost inconceivable to think of one without the other and maybe that is why we all knew as close as they were together in life, neither would survive long without the other. Dad passed away on the 18th of December and mom followed him less than a month later. If one believes in the after life, which they did, then they are reunited in heaven.

These were some of the events in mom's life, but there was so much more to her. She was the perfect wife for our dad, and the best mother we could have asked for. She set the bar so high that she is a hard act to follow.

She had a wonderful personality, liked everybody and disliked nobody. Always a social butterfly, she enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends who were always welcomed in our house, Mom was sophisticated yet unassuming, she was regal yet humble, she was graceful, kind and considerate, she was selfless and devoted, she was not pretentious or judgemental, she had abundant charm, wit and sense of humour and an enormous zest for life.

Mom loved to be informed about everything that was going on in the world, be it current affairs, politics and even actors and singers, she knew some I even hadn't heard about. She loved Iran immensely and even to the last day of her life she regretted what became of her beloved country.

Well, if I want to write about mom, I could write a book but let me finish our tribute to her by saying that if God created her then He must have been in a great mood and frame of mind that day. She touched the hearts of everybody she ever met. We are going to miss her so very much. Rest in peace mom We love you.