Katia Rose Daghlian

On December 17, 2021, our beloved daughter Katia Rose Daghlian unexpectedly passed away at Seton Medical Center surrounded by her family. Katia was born on February 7, 2003, in Greenbrae, CA, to parents Kelly Owens and Dikran Daghlian. She graduated early from University High School, Austin, TX, Class of 2021. She was a former musician at School of Rock in Austin, TX.

Katia spent her early years in Chattanooga, TN, attending Normal Park Museum Magnet School. During these years her fearlessness blossomed from picking up a guitar and performing in front of others to becoming a dauntless soccer goalkeeper. She began playing guitar in 4th grade, and it became one of her greatest passions that led to her performing amazing shows around Austin.

Katia’s song writing revealed an emotional understanding beyond her years that sliced into the depths of love, sorrow, longing, and joy. She felt deeply and she made us feel. She loved to sing and perform, bolstered by the remarkable staff and kids at the Austin School of Rock. The stage and audience never made her flinch–she longed for it with every opportunity. She was so dedicated and proud when she saved up her money and booked a local studio to produce and record one of her original tracks.

Katia was making plans for college, undecided between pursuing her love of music and production professionally, or the more “realistic” goal of becoming a veterinarian. Katia loved animals–she adored her bunny, Juna, and her dog, Ozzie. If there was a cat within a hundred yards, Katia would befriend it. She always wanted a ragdoll cat of her own. Her future plans included… a cat.

Katia’s off-guard humor and ridiculous physical comedy were reserved for those in her orbit. She made us laugh so hard. Few were lucky enough to see an intro dance to her favorite anime show. She was able to light up a room when she decided to turn it on. She and her sister Emma had their shared music, shows, and elaborately choreographed sister handshake. When Katia felt joy, everyone felt it. When she smiled, it lifted you up. She was the spark and fire, the sweet and sour we all need to feel vitality. When she knew she wanted something, there was no stopping her. She had no concept of not possible. Everyone could use a little of that.

Katia’s passion, creativity, love, bravery, introspection, joy, and so much more were taken from her all too soon. A piece of us has forever been lost. This is just a glimpse of what it was like to live with, know, and love Katia. But no words will ever measure up to the best of the light inside Katia.

Katia is greatly missed, deeply loved, and survived by her sister, Emma Daghlian; her mother, Kelly Owens; her father, Dikran Daghlian; her paternal grandparents, Dr. Bedros and Ivy Daghlian; her uncle, Shant Daghlian and wife Angela; her uncle, Levon Daghlian; cousins Armen Daghlian, Alec Daghlian, Katelyn Johannes, and Elianna Daghlian as well as many other extended family members and friends. Katia was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Janice and Lamar Owens.

Join us in a celebration event for Katia’s life on January 7, 2022, (7-9:30 PM) at the South Congress Hotel, 1603 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. The Celebration of Life ceremony will be followed by live music and food. Katia was intimately laid to rest by family and close friends at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home & Cemetery on December 22, 2021.