Rosalie Chorbajian

She was born on May 24, 1927 in Worcester, MA, to daughter of Sarkis and Maritza (Babolian) Gazoorian and graduated from North High School and Salter Secretarial School, both in Worcester, MA. She worked for 35 years for the United States Government on Capitol Hill in various positions and for numerous Congressmen and Senators including long time service for Rep. William St Onge of Connecticut, Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey. During her last position as Office Manager for Rep. Pallone, she was influential in assisting the Congressman in founding the Congressional Armenian Caucus whose interests are focused on US relations with the independent nation of Armenia and the recognition of the Genocide of one and one-half million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915, a cause that was very important to her.

She is survived by her grandchildren: Christie Chorbajian of Bowie, MD; Jacqueline Chorbajian of Harrisburg, PA, Peter (Jenni) Chorbajian of Dunkirk, MD, and Christian Chorbajian of Dunkirk, MD; her siblings, Natalie Barmakian of Belmont, MA; Lee Gazoorian of Haines Falls, NY; and Marcia Gazoorian of Worcester, MA; her great grandchildren Luke and Carly; and several beloved nieces and nephews. She also leaves an extraordinary family, the Ludwigs – Jeffrey, Sally, Jacqueline and Kahuhipa, whose love and support have sustained her and her grandchildren since the passing of her only son, Dr. James P. Chorbajian in 2006 and his wife, Cheryl (Wolfe) Chorbajian in 2005.

Visitation services will be held at Robert E. Evans Funeral Home in Bowie, MD on Friday March 31 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. Funeral services will be held Saturday April 1 at 10am at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Bowie, MD. Committal Service will be directly after the funeral at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.

Rosalie was a member of St. Mary Armenian Church of Washington, DC, the Daughters of Vartan (an Armenian philanthropic and service organization), as well as the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Rosalie was an intelligent, strong, loyal and caring woman whose values and principles earned her the respect of all those whom she encountered. She served as an example of strength and dignity for her family members and friends, and lived her life with a sense of purpose inspiring those around her to be “ladies and gentlemen at all times”.

Donations in Rosalie’s name may be made to The Armenia Tree Project: 400 West Cummings Park, Ste 3900 Woburn, MA 01801; AGBU Humanitarian Relief Fund for Syrian Armenians: 55 East 59th Street New York, NY 10022.

A Repast will be held at the Knights of Columbus, Boswell Hall, 611 Columbian Way, Bowie, Maryland 20715.