Virginia G. (Garabed) Shakarjian

Virginia G. “Ginny” Shakarjian, 87, of Rydal passed from this life surrounded by her family on May 19, 2021, after a courageous eleven-year battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Ara with whom she shared 65 years of marriage. Ginny was born in Philadelphia on April 6, 1934, to Philip S. Garabed and Rebecca (Hovsepian) Garabed.

A loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Ginny is survived by her three children, Mark Shakarjian of Warminster, Daniel Shakarjian (Kris) of Horsham, and Christine Grosstephan (Michael) of Burbank, CA. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Victoria Lyons (Rob), Karyn Shakarjian, Emily Grosstephan and Kaitlyn Grosstephan, and three great grandchildren, Noelle Lyons, Scarlette Lyons, and Robert James Lyons. Also surviving are her brother Edward Garabed (Nancy), her sister-in-law Zevart Shakarjian and many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Yeadon High School, Ginny received an associate degree from Drexel Institute of Technology. She was employed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Philadelphia before spending time at home raising her children. Later, she was employed by the Abington School District until her retirement in 1996.

Ginny loved summer vacations at the New Jersey Shore, reading, traveling to Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and many cities in the United States for annual lodge conventions. She was a devoted member of the Daughters of Vartan and gave freely of her time and abilities to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church as a Sunday school teacher, book store assistant and many other activities of the church.

Most of all, Ginny treasured her family and loved spending time with them. Her family will remember her good cooking, her sharp sense of humor, her willingness to support and help with anything they needed and her keen interest in their lives.

Family and friends are invited to Ginny’s funeral service on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 101 Ashmead Road, Cheltenham, PA. A visitation will be held at the church starting at 9:30 AM followed by the service at 10:30 AM. Interment will be at Lawnview Cemetery, 500 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 101 Ashmead Road, Cheltenham, PA 19012.

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