Lillian "Sharka" (Masoian) Papazian

Lillian " Sharka " Papazian, age 97, of North Providence, Rhode Island, and Delray Beach, Florida, passed away, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, April 10, 2022. She was the beloved wife of the late David Papazian. Born in Central Falls, on August 7, 1924, RI Lillian was the daughter of the late Hovagim and Sirarpy ( Panosian ) Masoian. Lillian was a very independent, sincere, giving, God loving person who had a great zest for life. She rarely said anything bad about anyone. Lillian absolutely loved nature, bird watching, flowers, foliage and especially her "plant room" as she called it. She was very fortunate to spend 30 years of being a "snowbird" in Florida. She so loved to be able to walk outside in the winter months without heavy winter clothing and view her tropical plants. When she would return to Rhode Island in the spring, she loved to visit South County, the ocean and eating at Aunt Carries. Her favorite place to eat with family and friends was Wrights Farm; she would say "oh I love these French fries". In her waning years Lillian loved having hot weiners, fries, coffee frappe and fudge. Lillian was a talented lady. She was an accomplished artist; hanging many beautiful paintings throughout her house. She was also an excellent cook of most Armenian foods. When she would make Kufta, she would hide a dime in the center filling as a surprise. Lillian was active in the Church and loved attending the picnics, bazaars, dances and talking to all her church family and friends. She was proud of her Armenian Heritage. Her first memory of Armenia in 1984 was “We felt the warmth of the people there; they opened their hearts and homes to us". She and David loved to travel; they had visited Armenia, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Holland, England and most of the Caribbean Islands. She lived a long and beautiful life and will be missed dearly by all that loved her.

Sharka was her given name at baptism. When she entered school as a child, the teacher said, “I will not call you by that name. Go home and change it!” So she did, and her parents settled on the beautiful name Lillian.

Before retiring in 1984, she had worked at Vocational Rehabilitation in Providence, as a senior clerk stenographer. In 1973 Lillian’s Husband David opened David’s Furniture in North Providence. She was instrumental in providing support for her husband and later her sons who went into the business.

She is survived by her sons, Mark Papazian and his companion Jennifer Keiser of Glocester, RI, David " Rick " Papazian and his wife Robin of Johnston, RI, her grandchildren, Tanya Papazian, Steven Papazian, Gregory Papazian, her great granddaughter Saphire Cumberbatch and her brother Stephen Masoian of Cranston. She was the sister of the late George Masoian and Susan Ohanian.

Calling hours will be held Saturday April 16, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 am in Saints Sahag and Mesrob, 70 Jefferson Street, Providence followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00am. Burial will follow in North Burial Ground, Providence. A reception will follow burial back at the church. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to Saints Sahag and Mesrob, 70 Jefferson Street, Providence, RI 02908 or at http://stsahmes.org/