September 6, 1921 − December 11, 2019
A Wonderful Blessed Life
The Genocide
Virginia’s father, Mihran Boyajian, was born around 1895 in Augustopolis, Armenia (Nigde, Turkey) and he married Bayzar Baghdasarian who was born around 1904. His family owned farms and ranches in the area that they leased to others and the family acted as the brokers for much of the harvest. Virginia’s maternal grandfather, Hagop, was a photographer and the Turkish army one of his clients. One day a Turkish officer warned him that all the Armenians were about to be rounded up and killed. The families decided to send the younger adults out of the country to set up a household and later the older ones would follow. So Mihran with his new bride Bayzar, one brother, and one sister made their way to Athens, Greece and later the rest of the Boyajian family joined them as they went on to Marseille, France. They had bought second class instead of lower steerage tickets, since Bayzar was with child, and boarded the Greek ship for the US. Landing in New York and bypassing Ellis Island, they went to Philadelphia to join friends and fellow Armenians. Berjouhi was born 1 week later. The Baghdasarian family was not as blessed, since Bayzar’s parents and only a few siblings survived and made it to Argentina because the US quota for Armenians was full.
The Early Years
Berjouhi, meaning beautiful or elegant, was officially given the first name of Virginia and became the older sister to Mary and Helen. She grew up in East Lansdowne, PA, went to elementary school, and attended the nearby Lutheran Church Sunday school with friends in the early morning, developed a lifelong joy of reading the Bible in English, and later that day attended St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Church with her family. The girls slept in the attic and Virginia would come down in the mourning and watch her paternal grandfather, Krikor, wash his face and pray to the Lord. The family eventually opened a store that did tailoring and laundry, helping them survive the Great Depression. Virginia would tell one story about her father and his brother Nigoghos (Nicholas) buying used clothes and suits in Philadelphia, and even going to New York, repairing and laundering them for resale. She graduated from Lansdowne High School in 1939 and got a job with Bell Telephone.
Courtship, Marriage, and the War
She continues to attend St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, eventually teaching Sunday school and meeting Richard Deran Boyajian, who had just graduated college at Drexel Institute of Technology, third in his Mechanical Engineering Class of 1939, and winner of the first Armenian Student Association Gold Medal. They were married on Saturday November 29, 1941, Thanksgiving weekend, and unfortunately when the Army − Navy football game was held. Of course the band did not show up for the reception. They honeymooned in Virginia Beach and after returning Sunday December 7, 1941, they and the rest of America learned about the day that would live in infamy, the bombing of Pearl Harbor Hawaii by the Japanese. While living in to their own apartment, and with Philadelphia becoming the most active large city contributing to the war effort, there was a demand for workers in the banking industry, and Virginia would eventually get a job with the Federal Reserve Bank. With Richard having an engineering degree and completing mandatory military Reserve Officers Training (ROTC) in college, the Navy frequently called him in for an interview, but he was rejected for a commission as an officer because of poor eyesight. Eventually, he would be drafted into the Navy, sailed through the most advanced technical schools as an electrician, and then radar and sonar repair schools. He was sent off to the Pacific Theater in 1945, thankfully to a non-combat area, and achieved the rank of Petty Officer Second Class.
Parenthood and Family
After the war, Richard found a job with Philadelphia Electric Company designing power plants and they started a family with the arrival of Barbara in 1947. With the help of the GI Bill, they eventual purchase a house in West Philadelphia and their first son, John Deran, was born in 1951. Virginia has always said they wanted children 4 years apart so they could afford college tuition. Meanwhile Richard used the GI Bill again towards a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania by 1953. Their youngest, James Gregory, was born in 1957 and the family moved to Lansdowne. Besides Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Virginia became more active at St. Sahag and St. Mesrob in West Philadelphia. Richard was on the new building committee and instead of buying land to build a new church, he and Virginia strongly favored buying an old mansion that had been converted into The Agnes Irwin Girls School with over 8 acres, school rooms, cafeteria, gym – auditorium, and just outside of the city. The new church in Wynnewood was consecrated in 1963. Eventually the family moved to Berwyn in 1966 and Virginia became president of the Young Ladies Guild, represented the church at the regional Church Women’s United, and encouraging the Armenian Church to participate in the World Day of Prayer. The family was blessed again when Virginia’s maternal grandmother immigrated from Argentina and four generations were united − Dikranouhi, Bayzar, Virginia, and Barbara.
Second Career
After her oldest children were on their own and the “baby” went off to college, Virginia wanted more than volunteering for organizations like Meals-On-Wheels. She went back to her banking experience and got a part time job with PSFS (Philadelphia Savings Fund Society). She enjoyed working with young adults and seeing the same customers each month.
Retirement and Travel
Richard retired after 37 years when James graduated from medical school in 1983. Virginia eventually retired a few years later, and they lived a comfortable blessed life. They had a “surprise” fiftieth (50) anniversary party with extended family and many friends in 1991. Seeking an easier tempo without the need to keep up a large home, they moved to a retirement community in Media. They frequently traveled by train across America, visiting their sons in southern California, a sister community near one of Richard’s relatives and St David Armenian Church in Boca Raton FL, and driving to Barbara’s house in northern New Jersey.
Sun, Fun, and Freedom
After John married Jane Mahakian in 1998, and with both sons in warmer Southern California, Richard and Virginia moved in 2000 to Freedom Village, another continuing care retirement community with a full spectrum of worry free living and care options in Lake Forest. They joined St. Mary Armenian Church and continued to travel including a trip to San Diego for an American Mechanical Engineering Society and Women’s Auxiliary conference. Virginia’s grandson, Adam, joined the family in 2002 and she cherished being with him.
Twilight Years
Several months after their sixty-fifth (65) anniversary, Richard passed in 2007 following a short period of illness. Virginia embraced her independence, enjoyed many Village activities, continued to drive to the store and market, and cook her own meals. James visited frequently to enjoy his mother’s cooking or take her out to eat. Virginia loved to attend the Ladies Society Luncheons as well. As time continued and she would need more help, hired helpers would not diminish her fierce independence. Following her middle sister Mary’s passing in February 2019, Virginia became ill herself in April. After a slow recovery, she happily celebrated her ninety-eight (98) Birthday in September.
Virginia is survived by her younger sister Helen Parseghian as well as her husband John and son Greg, her children Barbara, John as well as his wife Jane and son Adam, and James.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18