Mary A. Zorabedian

Mary A. Zorabedian, 82 of Saunderstown, died peacefully on Friday, December 18, 2009, at South County Hospital with her children by her side, after a courageous battle with breast cancer for nearly 5 years. Mary was the wife of the late Richard Zorabedian. She was born in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of John and Katherine (Chakoian) Magarian, who were survivors of the Armenian genocide. Mary immigrated to the United States at two weeks old, where she grew up in Providence, RI, before moving to Saunderstown in 1969. For the past few years, “Mama Z” spent wonderful, serene summers by the ocean in Misquamicut, RI, with her son’s in-laws, Robert and Madelyn Dee. A 1945 graduate of Central High School, Mary also attended classes at URI in the 1970’s. A devoted wife, mother, and Nana, who considered “home-making” her primary occupation, Mary was appointed administrative aide to the Speaker of the RI House of Representatives in 1968, the first woman to hold that position. Previously, she had worked for the Legislative Press Bureau in the state house, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and was secretary to the first nursing director of the state of RI. Mary was passionate about everything she did in life, including gourmet cooking, feeding family, friends, and neighbors whenever she could, classical music, the opera, Latin music, especially Santana, art, painting with oil and watercolor, theatre, mystery books, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, the Red Sox, and particularly her bible studies and sharing her faith in God. Mostly, she adored her family, relatives, and many friends. She made a strong and positive impact on countless people who were fortunate to know her, including inspiring other women and men with cancer. Mary leaves a daughter, Donna M. Santaniello of Wakefield; a son, Thomas R. Zorabedian and his wife Nancy Dee of Wakefield; a granddaughter, Nicole Santaniello of Newport; a grandson, Christian Santaniello and his wife Kasey McGarrigle of Santa Monica, CA; a sister, Agnes Connery of Narragansett; brothers Matthew Magarian and his wife Marion, and Richard Magarian and his wife Judith, both of North Kingstown; many nephews and nieces around the country; and many loyal and dear friends. Funeral and burial will be private. A memorial service to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on January 2 at 11 a.m., at Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, in Wakefield, RI. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Zorabedian Scholarship for the Arts, c/o URI, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, 257 Chafee, Kingston, 02881.