Windh/Freise/Maurstad genealogy - Person Sheet
Windh/Freise/Maurstad genealogy - Person Sheet
NameAstreed TOURIAN
Birth11 Nov 1926, Nicosia, Cyprus
Death16 Nov 2021, Massachusetts
Occupationemigrated to the US with her family in 1956
EducationShe earned her B.A. with high honors after the age of 60.
ReligionClick her name to see an obituary.
FatherYervant TOURIAN (1904-1981)
MotherSirvart MANOUSHAGIAN (1905-1995)
Misc. Notes
Obituary from the Eagle Tribune in Quincy, Massachusetts
Astreed Tourian Bagdoian, most recently of Quincy, was the oldest child of Yervant Tourian and Sirvart Manoushagian Tourian, both survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, she moved with her family to Jerusalem in the early 1930's where all of her four siblings were born. Soon after she graduated from Jerusalem Girls College, the Tourians fled Jerusalem in 1948 to escape escalating violence between Jews and Arabs in that region, packing a few belongings and escaping by taxi to Lebanon in the middle of the night.
While living in Beirut, Astreed taught English at a secondary school and worked as a secretary at the American University of Beirut. The entire family – fluent in English, Armenian, and a few other languages – immigrated to the United States in 1956. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1964.
Wed to John O. Bagdoian in 1959, they had two children, Irene and John. After her husband died in 1969, Astreed raised her children in Methuen while working at Holy Family Hospital and continuing her education at Northern Essex Community College and Merrimack College. She earned her B.A. with high honors after the age of 60.
After retiring, she volunteered at Holy Family Hospital in the Day Surgery Unit, providing support to families as they waited for loved ones having surgery. An active member of First Church Congregational in Methuen for 40 years, she taught Sunday School, served on the Diaconate, regularly cooked for the homeless, and advised the youth group.
Throughout her life, she was an avid reader, knitter, lover of music and theater, supporter of Armenian-related causes, and devout Christian. She strongly supported education and careers for women. She delighted to be "front and center" in the Governor's Office for the swearing-in of her daughter as a trial court judge in June of 2018.
In 2008, Astreed reluctantly left Methuen to live closer to her daughter.
Astreed is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Irene H. Bagdoian and Paul H. Sangree of Quincy; her son and daughter-in-law, John J. Bagdoian and Debbie Bagdoian of Lawrence; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Anna B. Sangree and Jonathan Tieu of Quincy; her brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Ara Y. Tourian and Hjordis Tourian of Durham, North Carolina, and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to her husband, Astreed was preceded in death by her brothers, Kourken Tourian and Vahe Tourian, and her sister, Arpee Tourian Jones.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Church Congregational in Methuen on December 4, 2021, at 11 a.m. Her ashes will be interred in the Memorial Garden at First Church after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Armenian EyeCare Project or Armenian Missionary Association of America.
Astreed Tourian Bagdoian, most recently of Quincy, was the oldest child of Yervant Tourian and Sirvart Manoushagian Tourian, both survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, she moved with her family to Jerusalem in the early 1930's where all of her four siblings were born. Soon after she graduated from Jerusalem Girls College, the Tourians fled Jerusalem in 1948 to escape escalating violence between Jews and Arabs in that region, packing a few belongings and escaping by taxi to Lebanon in the middle of the night.
While living in Beirut, Astreed taught English at a secondary school and worked as a secretary at the American University of Beirut. The entire family – fluent in English, Armenian, and a few other languages – immigrated to the United States in 1956. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1964.
Wed to John O. Bagdoian in 1959, they had two children, Irene and John. After her husband died in 1969, Astreed raised her children in Methuen while working at Holy Family Hospital and continuing her education at Northern Essex Community College and Merrimack College. She earned her B.A. with high honors after the age of 60.
After retiring, she volunteered at Holy Family Hospital in the Day Surgery Unit, providing support to families as they waited for loved ones having surgery. An active member of First Church Congregational in Methuen for 40 years, she taught Sunday School, served on the Diaconate, regularly cooked for the homeless, and advised the youth group.
Throughout her life, she was an avid reader, knitter, lover of music and theater, supporter of Armenian-related causes, and devout Christian. She strongly supported education and careers for women. She delighted to be "front and center" in the Governor's Office for the swearing-in of her daughter as a trial court judge in June of 2018.
In 2008, Astreed reluctantly left Methuen to live closer to her daughter.
Astreed is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Irene H. Bagdoian and Paul H. Sangree of Quincy; her son and daughter-in-law, John J. Bagdoian and Debbie Bagdoian of Lawrence; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Anna B. Sangree and Jonathan Tieu of Quincy; her brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Ara Y. Tourian and Hjordis Tourian of Durham, North Carolina, and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to her husband, Astreed was preceded in death by her brothers, Kourken Tourian and Vahe Tourian, and her sister, Arpee Tourian Jones.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Church Congregational in Methuen on December 4, 2021, at 11 a.m. Her ashes will be interred in the Memorial Garden at First Church after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Armenian EyeCare Project or Armenian Missionary Association of America.