Marion Chapkounian

Born in Bridgeport, Conn, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Sophie (Leylegian) Zarifian.

As a teenager, in Bridgeport, Ct, Marion was a waitress at a restaurant where her dad worked. One of the patrons took a liking to her and started her first investment into the stock market. She had such excitement with her only stock purchase. Later on Marion worked for Levine Coat in Bridgeport where she managed and organized work for the company’s sewing machine operators.

She married Simon in 1955 and worked at Coro Jewelry in Providence until she started her family. When her children went to school she worked at Romano Jewelry at night. She wanted more family time to be home when her children came home from school so she cleaned homes for her friends and while there met 5 children who would respect her like a second mother. When she was older, she babysat for children including her own grandchildren.

In her spare time, she sat and cleaned rice. She loved to bake and cook and you could always find her in the kitchen. She never invited you but preferred just stopping by for a visit with her. She also went to ceramics and made many treasures.

Probably her best legacy is the values she instilled in her children. She demanded that we always told the truth and that we were kind.

Marion was the loving mother of Judy Ayers and her late husband Anthony, Gary Chapkounian, Jack Chapkounian and his wife Cheryl and the late Simon Chapkounian, Jr. and cherished grandmother of Michael and his wife Deanna, Marissa, Simon Jack and Rosey. She was also the sister of Louise Goorhigian (Martin) the late George Zarifian (Joan) and Sgt. Hajop “Jack” Zarifian.

Visitation and funeral will be held Monday, April 14, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the PONTARELI-MARINO FUNERAL HOME, 971 Branch Avenue, Providence followed by a Funeral Home Service at 10:00 AM. Graveside burial to follow in North Burial Ground Cemetery, Providence.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marion’s memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org.