Seda Klanian

Gayane Karapetian in Krasnodar, Russia. Seda was the second of four

children and was preceded in death by her older brother Garabed and

two younger brothers Albert and Aschot.

At approximately five years of age, her family immigrated from Russia

and settled briefly in Tabriz, Iran and later moved permanently to the

Iranian capital of Tehran. There, her family lived in an Armenian/

Assyrian neighborhood where Seda attended the local schools. While

still a teen, Seda displayed exceptional creative talent in both sketching

and fashion. She developed a self-taught skill in pattern and dress

making and quickly established an impressive clientele. It was with the

help of family who had already settled in Los Angeles that Seda was

able to move to Los Angeles in 1951. There, she lived with relatives

and attended Los Angeles City College to learn English and the

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where she pursued her

passion for women’s fashion design.

On one fateful evening, Seda attended an Armenian dance with several

of her cousins. This is where she met Gabriel, who had driven crosscountry

from Rhode Island with a buddy of his. They were married

January 14, 1956 and initially settled in East Los Angeles. Their

firstborn, Charlene was born late that same year. Two years later they

moved to La Habra followed by the births of Cynthia and Glen.

Gabriel and Seda settled in Newport Beach, California in 1986 once

their children were grown. There, they decorated their home with

beautiful art and antiques they collected together over many years of

traveling both domestically and abroad.

Seda dedicated her life to her husband, three children and, eventually,

Zachary, Alexander, Nicholas and Gabriel, her four grandsons. Seda

possessed a dry wit, exquisite taste and style and was an exceptional

cook. She conducted herself with grace and displayed an unshakable

inner strength throughout her lifetime. Seda and Gabriel together

contributed to many charitable causes and organizations both within

and outside of the Armenian community. However, it was the time

spent with her family that brought her the greatest joy.