Vahan Haroutunian

Vahan Haroutunian was a lot of things in his life, but scared wasn’t one of them.

This is a man who left home at a very young age, before he was 18 years old. He had a third-grade education and spoke four languages fluently. He was proud to hail from Sassoun, Armenia.

When he started a family of his own, he and his wife, Satenig, were living in Beirut, Lebanon. Vahan realized Beirut was too dangerous to stay. He and Satenig sold everything they had. With two suitcases and two children, ages two and four, they moved across oceans and continents to reach the United States in pursuit of the American dream.

He didn’t know the English language or what he would do for work to support his family, but he did it anyway to give his children a better life than what was afforded to him.

Vahan was a lot of things in his life, but lazy wasn’t one of them.

Vahan, Satenig, and their two children arrived at Syracuse, New York. He found a job detailing cars at a dealership that was in North Syracuse, which was far from where they lived. Every day, he had to take two busses each way to get to work and back. Anyone who knows Syracuse knows how brutal and long the winters are. This man traveled in the cold and worked in the cold to detail cars every day. He would leave before the sun came up and come home after it had gone down. Yet he rarely missed work and never complained.

He continued detailing and washing cars when the family moved to Houston. He worked in all weather, in the heat and humidity and cold. He did whatever tasks were asked of him without complaint. Satenig worked too, washing dishes at a restaurant in Syracuse, and then working in the kitchens at restaurants in Houston. All the while, she still made the delicious traditional Armenian foods that the family knew and loved.

Vahan was a lot of things in his life, but worldly wasn’t one of them.

This is a man who was a very devout believer in Christ, he attended and volunteered at the Armenian Orthodox Church his entire life. Armenia was the first country to establish Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD. Therefore, it is not surprising that his faith was first as his guide in all things.

In Syracuse, the family attended St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church. In Houston, Vahan worshipped and volunteered at St. Kevork Armenian Church for decades, until his health failed him and he no longer could participate. He loved nothing more than to come to the Hye Dune on Sundays and listen to badarack. He prayed all the time and was a devout servant to God.

Vahan was a lot of things, but proud wasn’t one of them.

He lived as humbly as anyone could, always considering what things cost. He would never buy himself anything unless he had to. When his son, Seb, was old enough to buy him nice things like Nike running shoes, he would keep them in the box and wear his old ones instead. He wanted to preserve the good ones for a day that probably never came.

Vahan was a lot of things in his life, and most of all he was a good man.

He took care of his family as best as he could and loved his wife Satenig with all his heart. They had been married for 32 years when Satenig’s death parted them. When she died in 2001, the family thought he wouldn’t make it long without her because, as most Armenians will attest, the wife does everything for the husband. He proved us all wrong and lived 21 more years because he was a fighter.

Whatever he had was good enough for him. He never looked at anyone else’s plate or account with envy in his heart. He was a simple, honest, and kind man who worked hard his entire life. He never asked for anything from anyone and ended each day with a prayer thanking God for everything he had.

Vahan Haroutunian brought honor to the family.

In his life, Vahan Haroutunian was a lot of things: he was hard working, humble, faithful, grateful, and kind.

On his wife’s deathbed, in the presence of their daughter and son, Vahan told Satenig that she brought honor to his family. This is the highest compliment a husband can pay to his wife.

On his deathbed, his eldest child, Lucy, reminded Vahan of the praise he cherished upon his wife on her deathbed. She then said to him, as your oldest child I now tell you, you brought honor to our family. That is the highest compliment a child can pay to her father.

Vahan is preceded in death by his loving wife, Satenig Haroutunian.

He is survived by his son Sebouh Haroutunian and his wife Jennifer Haroutunian; his daughter Lucy Haroutunian Forbes and his granddaughter Laura Forbes.

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Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelofeternalpeace.com for the Haroutunian family.