Psalm 139: 17-18
Helen Paul Pattie has died, aged 102. Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, she was a very welcome addition to the family of Iskouhy and Stepan Boghosian/Paul. Her birth certificate included four possible names for her, showing her parents working out how best to transition to becoming new Americans. Haigouhi Boghosian, Helen Boghosian, Haigouhi Paul, Helen Paul – the last becoming the name she went by until her marriage to Mark Turrell Pattie, Jr. in 1948.
Helen grew up in New Castle, the youngest child of Iskouhy and Stepan and the only one born in America. Her 6 siblings were born in the family’s village of Kessab in today’s northern Syria. By 1914 when Stepan migrated to America, the Ottoman Empire was crumbling and life was precarious. He hoped to quickly bring the family to join him but the following year marked the beginning of the worst part of the Armenian Genocide. Iskouhy and the children, along with most of the population of historic western Armenia, were forced onto marches toward the Syrian deserts. Two children died on the road, two were taken from her. Two survived and escaped with Iskouhy to Aleppo where she worked as a laundress and they waited in an orphanage. Finally, Iskouhy, Gul (Rose) and Hagop (Jack), were able to join Stepan in 1921 in New Castle where he was working in a tin mill. There, with a few other Armenian families, they created a new home and Helen was born. Sadly, a short time later, Rose also died, of disease contracted on the marches. Jack and Helen, though fifteen years apart, became closely bound to each other, eventually settling near one another and raising their large families together. It’s no wonder all of her Paul family nieces and nephews considered her their second mother.
After high school graduation in New Castle, Helen studied to become a secretary and moved to Washington, DC where she worked at the Pentagon. When WWII began, she was promoted to the personnel office of the Medical Department of the Army where she soon became the office manager. In 1946, the Office of the Surgeon General awarded her the Emblem for Meritorious Service for exceptional ability and faithful service.
Brother Jack had joined the army and was working as a teaching assistant in the Turkish language department at Indiana University where a young recruit was studying. Mark Pattie and Jack became friends. When the war ended and both their families had moved to Washington DC, they visited each other and Mark discovered Jack had an intelligent, attractive sister. They married in 1948 in Wallace Memorial Church, Washington, and began family life nearby. Helen stopped working outside the home when they had their first child, Susan, followed by Sara, Virginia and Mark III. When Mark (Jr) was stationed in Cyprus for two years, the family went along and Helen put aside her own worries about the move to ensure the children had a wonderful adventure.
On the family’s return to the U.S., they settled in Bowie, Maryland where Helen would then spend the next 40 years. As the children left home, Helen returned to office work, this time at the Church of the Redeemer in Bowie. When Mark retired, they began to travel more, and as their first grandchildren appeared, spent more time in Paris and London where Ginny and Susan had settled. After Mark’s death, Helen began a life of constant travel between her children’s homes, with her base for 20 years being with Mark III and family. In her late 80s she visited her parents’ village of Kessab, and in her 90s revisited Cyprus, and enjoyed grandson Vahan’s wedding in Paris and Portugal. In 2022 she began living with Sara in Brewster, MA, then celebrated her 101st birthday in London and attended granddaughter Lauren’s wedding in Seattle later that year. Niece Armenie and husband Mike Varadian hosted her 102nd birthday in Norwood, MA.
Helen left her mark on all who met her. She thought of herself as a quiet, private person and was honestly perplexed that so many told her that she was a great mentor and example. Her simple dignity of character, subtle, constant sense of humor, sincere interest in all she met were traits that made her stand out without trying. People remember her “magic table” where without prior warning, Helen could produce a meal for an infinite number of people. All were welcome at almost any time. Helen made people comfortable, avoided making judgements about behavior or belief, and never lectured but led by example. She was totally present and “of the moment”, focused on whomever she was speaking with. A number of people said that when faced with a dilemma they would call her or thought to themselves, “What would Helen do?” She is remembered for her huge, loving hugs.
Her faith was her foundation. Her mother’s example of constant love and lack of bitterness about earlier experiences of extreme loss influenced Helen greatly. She found the perfect mate in Mark who shared her faith and they grew together as they nurtured it in others.
She leaves behind: her children Susan and husband Levon Chilingirian, Sara and partner Michael Fisher, Virginia and husband Aram Kerovpyan, Mark and wife Donna Peladeau Pattie; grandchildren: Maral Kerovpyan and partner Samuel, Vahan Kerovypan and wife Ana, Shushan Kerovpyan and partner Fotis, Lauren Pattie St Martin and husband Manuel, Mark Pattie IV and partner Sally, Jonathan Pattie; Stepan Chilingirian and partner Leah-Morgan; great- grandchildren, Maria-Nvart and Helena, Loucine and Lia, Violet-Mai and Iris-Rose. Also many nieces and nephews whom she loved deeply.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation in Helen’s memory, we suggest:
Your local church
The Armenian Missionary Association of America (Note: in the drop-down menu, we suggest Child Education in Lebanon and Syria or Child Sponsorship in Armenia, Artsakh and Georgia. However, there are many other good options, including the general fund. https://amaa.org/memorial-donations/
There will be a memorial service and celebration of Helen’s life in Massachusetts in August, date and place to be determined.
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