100TH BIRTHDAY!
Haiganoush Akaraguian (named after her grandmother who perished in the Genocide) was born in Romania on November 30, 1923 to Ohannes and Yeghsapet Akaraguian. Her father, Ohannes Akaraguian, was born in Agin, Kharpert and was the youngest of three sisters and two brothers. Ohannes lost sixteen members of his immediate family in the Genocide, including his father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandmother. Ohannes survived after being rescued by a Turkish Chorban.
From birth to 1963, Haiganoush lived in Romania where she received her higher education, worked as an accountant, and had her son Peter Akaragian. In 1963, Haiganoush, Peter, and her mother Yeghsapet left Romania for the United States. They spent a year in Beirut, Lebanon and in 1964 arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. A year later, Haiganoush’s only sibling, Baghdassar Akaraguian, followed along with his wife, Louisa, and daughters Hermine and Diana.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Haiganoush rented a small studio apartment in the Hollywood area where she lived with her son Peter (then age 14) and her mother. Haiganoush took a modest job tying neck ties while she learned English. Within the year, Haiganoush learned English (which now became the seventh language that she spoke) and found a job as a bookkeeper at a multi-national clothing company called Arpeja. Within the next years, and after many hours of hard work and dedication, Haiganoush became the controller and held a seat on the Board of Directors of Arpeja where she worked for over twenty years.
In 1964, Haignoush enrolled her son Peter as one of the first students at Ferrahian. He graduated in the first graduating class in 1969. Peter is currently an asset manager and lives in Tarzana. Over the years, Haiganoush has been involved in the Armenian Community, including serving on the PTA at Ferrahian and helping dozens and dozens of Armenians get a job at Arpeja .
In 1979, Haiganoush’s first grandson, Armen Akaragian, was born. He is an attorney at Mardirossian Akaragian LLP. In 1982, Haiganoush had a second grandson, Ara Akaragian. He is also an attorney. In addition to her two grandchildren, Haiganoush also has five great grandchildren: Alina (age 14), Alex (age 11), Aiden (age 11), Anto (age 7), and Vivienne (age 7). Haiganoush lives at her home in Santa Monica where she has resided for over 40 years. She is healthy and happy and cherished spending her 100th Birthday with her family.