Mariam Dorian

Dorian, Mariam Berberian, formerly of Livingston & Bay Head, NJ and Boca Raton, FL, passed away peacefully at home on February 21, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was 92. Born on May 8, 1929, in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Pambook and Setrag Berberian, immigrants who fled Turkey to escape the Armenian Genocide in the 1900’s. Although Mary lost her mom at the young age of 13, her mom taught her not only the importance of education but of music. Mary learned to play the violin which she diligently practiced and performed in many recitals. Mary also saw how proud her mom was to become an American citizen and the freedom and opportunities that come with it. This instilled for Mary a tremendous love and pride for her country. From her father, Setrag she learned the importance of hard work and being respectful to everyone. She helped him in his restaurant, Seth’s Bar and Grill which was across from the Alderton Dairy in Newark NJ. She would arrive to work at 4 am to have coffee ready for the milkmen and helped in the restaurant for many years. She graduated from Barringer High School and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. While living in Philadelphia with her husband, Robert who was finishing his last year of medical school at Temple University, she became the personal assistant to Walter Annenberg, newspaper owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer. She was responsible for organizing his schedule and being his personal shopper where she would buy several gifts for his family members for him to choose and then return the rest. This was an activity she loved and carried on throughout her life for family and friends.

She married her beloved husband, Robert Varoujan Dorian (Bob) in 1953. Together they opened his OB-GYN practice in 1960 in both Livingston and N. Caldwell, NJ where Mary ran both offices for many years. While she gave up working to raise her family, she ended up going back to work in 1989 in his final year of practice to help him close out the office. They met at a church youth group called ACYOA in their teens and so began their love affair of 78 years.

Mary was a member of St Mary Armenian Church since its inception. She graduated from St. Mary Armenian School and Sunday School and went on to become a teacher of both for many years. She loved her church fiercely and was a member of the choir, the Women’s Guild (which she believed was the backbone of the church), the Y.P.A and served on the Armenian Diocesan Council at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City. You would often see Mary at many church functions in the kitchen preparing food for many events and standing behind the sink washing dishes at the end of the night. In addition, she initiated and carried out a fundraiser where she sold ShopRite vouchers for many years. She found joy in piling up her car with neighborhood children to drive them on the long ride to Irvington for Sunday School and Armenian School. Mary also chaired and was on the board of many St. Mary Fashion show fundraisers. She would often host the kick-off meeting at her home and work with the committee spending countless hours coming up with a theme and decorating handmade invitations. She was very proud to speak at the 50th anniversary of the Fashion Show in 2014 to share its history. She instilled a love for the Church, the Armenian language and culture not only to her children and grandchildren but to many who knew her.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Bob by only a few weeks. She was also predeceased by her sister, Rose Houmere (and Peter) and by her cherished son, Robert Setrag. She is survived by her daughters, Kim Jamgochian (and George) and Mary Jan Kelly (and Michael); daughter-in-law, Linda and nine beloved grandchildren, Rose (and Emma), Zoe, Marielle, Lucine, Seta, Vanessa, George, Ani & Taline (her 9 angels who she endearingly called Angels #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9); great grandson, Bodhi; and a large and loving extended family of cousins, nephews, and nieces. To her grandchildren and many who knew her she was lovingly called “Medzi”, a nickname meaning grandmother. Even though she was small in stature, her personality was big.

Throughout her life, Mary loved opening her home and hosting many parties for family and dear lifelong friends whether for the church, the Superbowl, the Academy Awards or the US Open. She was one of the first members of Weight Watchers earning a diamond pin for making lifetime membership in the 1970s. She enjoyed many activities including tennis, bowling and running. In retirement, she took up golf with a passion and was an honorary life-time member of Essex Fells and Broken Sound Country Clubs. Early on she took a few lessons where she learned to keep her left arm straight, her head down and follow through. She practiced that same swing which unlike her husband she never changed. She practiced golf with the same dedication that she did shorthand and typing which served her well. She also embraced the three “Cs” of golf; Confidence, Concentration and Composure. She often mentioned that the three “Cs” were not only important in golf but in everything we do. She loved to travel, exercise, read and garden which she could do in 90-degree humid weather for hours when everyone around her faded. She loved cross puzzles and watching Jeopardy with her family. She also loved making choreg, an Armenian sweet bread, which she would package and give to others and was the last gift she ever gave.

Funeral Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the St. Mary Armenian Church Endowment Fund at St. Mary Armenian Church, 200 West Mt. Pleasant Ave. Livingston NJ 07039.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.quinnhoppingfuneral.com for the Dorian family.