Rima Karapetyan

Rima was born on March 27, 1939, into a family facing the hardships of the post-World War II years. Despite those difficult circumstances, she distinguished herself through discipline, resilience, and an unwavering striving for higher education.

She pursued her passion for languages at Yerevan State University, in the Department of Romano-Germanic Languages. Upon graduation, she dedicated her life to education, choosing a career as a teacher of English language and literature — a profession she held with great pride and devotion for decades. It was at Yerevan State University that she met her future husband, Levon, with whom she would share a lifetime of love and partnership.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Rima and her family moved to St. Petersburg, where she continued to teach English at the Institute of Technology and Design, inspiring generations of students with her knowledge and kindness.

After her daughter moved to the United States, Rima and Levon followed her to America, where she proudly embraced citizenship in her new homeland. In this next chapter of her life, she found great joy in meeting new people, volunteering at the hospital, working at pre-school, and traveling extensively throughout the United States and abroad.

Rima was the heart of her family — a source of abundant love and strength. She was not only a devoted support for her daughter and son, but a cherished presence in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, giving them her time, wisdom, and boundless affection.

She is survived by her daughter Lilit, son Hovhannes, daughter-in-law Kristine, grandson Levon, granddaughters Lili and Eva, Eva's husband Oscar, and their children Leonardo, Elsa, and Andrey. She will be remembered for her elegance, intellect, generosity, and the deep love for her family. Rima's legacy lives on in the many lives she taught, touched, and nurtured.

May her memory be a blessing.