Azadouhie Chaderjian

Mrs. Azadouhie Terzian Chaderjian passed away peacefully on March 7, 2021, surrounded by family. Mrs. Chaderjian was born in 1932, in Beirut, Lebanon, to Krikor Terzian and Heranoush Amirkhanian, both survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Mrs. Chaderjian graduated from the prestigious Nshan Palanjian Djemaran College, where she was taught by poet, writer and educator Moushegh Ishkhan; novelist, playwright and founder of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, Levon Shant; and newspaper and periodicals editor and the last Prime Minister of the First Republic of Armenia, Simon Vratsian.

A voracious reader of Armenian and French literature, she devoured volumes and used her fluency in French to teach the language after graduating Djemaran and throughout her career.

Before her marriage to Yervant Chaderjian and as the couple raised their children, Mrs. Chaderjian managed the financial records and bookkeeping of the luxurious Middle Eastern Amatoury Perfumery in Hamra, a high-end business and fashion district in Beirut.

After the birth of her third child, Mrs. Chaderjian focused on raising her family. Her education at Djemaran and her passion for the Armenian language, literature, history and religion enabled her to copy-edit, proofread and review Armenian-language books and periodicals published by her husband’s Meshag Publishing company.

Mrs. Chaderjian also lectured at the Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, the suburb of Beirut where she and her family lived until 1976, when the Chaderjians emigrated to U.S. after the start of the Lebanese Civil War.

Following her family’s relocation to Fresno, Mrs. Chaderjian began to teach at the newly-formed Armenian Community School, while taking psychology, childhood development and education courses at Fresno City College and Fresno State University.

During the first decade of the Armenian school’s history, Mrs. Chaderjian was the only Armenian language, history and culture teacher. She retired in 1999 after serving the school for two decades, teaching her mother tongue and her culture to hundreds of students and helping mold young American-Armenians.

After retiring in 1999, Mrs. Chaderjian continued to teach the Armenian language at the AGBU evening school and tutored Armenian to her former students and often their children. She also volunteered at the public school near her home, helping teachers and students for a few hours each week.

Her ability to connect with all her students— treating them as her own but with a strict disciplinary approach to keep them interested and engaged— resulted in the creation of lifelong bonds with them.

Many of her students remembered her during the holidays and sent her greeting cards. Many invited her to their weddings and their children’s baptisms. When her students spotted her at a community event, mall or a restaurant, they came right to her, hugged her and told her about their lives.

Often her students told her that they continue to read and write the Armenian language and use it to write letters and cards to loved ones. These cherished moments and the bridge she helped build between her historic teachers and new generation of Armenians filled Mrs. Chaderjian with joy, pride and a strong sense of fulfillment.

Due to the Covid Restrictions, a private family graveside service will be held at Masis Ararat Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School, 108 N Villa Ave, Clovis, CA 93612.