Elsie Louise Nazarian, 95, who led the Nazarian Brothers Rug Company for over fifty years, died in her home after a long illness on May 10. A native of Washington, DC, Ms. Nazarian was born to George and Louise Nazarian, Armenian immigrants from Turkey, in 1929. She attended city public schools, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1947.
She went on to study at Averett College and serve as president of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority there. In 1949, she left Averett to marry Serop Sebouh Nersesian at the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church. In 1960, she returned to college, earning a bachelor’s degree in education from American University, then teaching in the DC public school system.
In 1968, Ms. Nazarian’s father unexpectedly died, leaving Nazarian Brothers, the company he founded in 1928, leaderless. Ms. Nazarian stepped in to keep the business out of bankruptcy and maintain its reputation as one of the metropolitan area’s premier retailers of oriental rugs. She was known as an expert in her field and gave lectures on oriental rugs to private and government organizations throughout the city. For many years, she served on the board of the Textile Museum.
Ms. Nazarian had two children, Lynda Nersesian (deceased 1998) and Robert Nersesian. She is survived by her son, her grandchildren Sara, George, Lulu, and Isabella, and her great grandchildren Nell, Baker, Samuel, Rose, and Henry. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make memorial contributions to the Armenian Missionary Society.
Friends will be accepted at Joseph Gawler's Sons Thursday May 16th from 10 AM to 11 AM, with a prayer service at 11 AM. Burial to follow at St. Paul’s Rock Creek Cemetery. The family would like to welcome friends to the residence following the burial for continued friendship.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.0