- Date Of Birth: September 12, 1926
- Date Of Death: August 11, 2018
- State: New York
Born on September 12, 1926 Departed on August 11, 2018 and resided in Yonkers, NY.
Dr. Marianna Davidian died peacefully on August 11, 2018, surrounded by her family. She lived a long and eventful life, filled with personal and professional accomplishments. She was 91.
She was born Marianna Mouradian on September 12, 1926 in Astrakhan, Russia, the first child of Kevork Mouradian and Shoushan (nee Kazarian). Unfortunately her mother passed away when she was only a few years old. Due to changes in the Russian regime, she moved with her father, her new stepmother Rosa, her younger sisters Lucik and Zina, and her brother Karekin to Tabriz, Iran. The family was involved in the canning and wine businesses, and their fortunes ebbed and flowed with the boom and bust cycles prevalent in Iran between the World Wars.
Marianna excelled at school, and like in all endeavors in her life, she worked diligently. She was one of the first female medical school graduates at the University in Tabriz and indeed in the entire country. Her graduating class included three women and over 80 men. Even as a young woman, she was a trailblazer, a pioneer who demonstrated ongoing courage and determination.
In 1956, she moved to the United States for her medical residency in Jamaica, Queens. Dr. Davidian, as she was known professionally, subsequently became a highly regarded pathologist. She rose to the rank of Director of Anatomical Pathology at Westchester Medical Center, where she served until her retirement in the 1990s. Throughout her career, she was noted for her skill and knowledge, for her unwavering dedication, and for her integrity.
Marianna married David Davidian in 1960, and they were happily married until his passing in 1990. They settled in Yonkers, New York, where she lived for the rest of her life. They had two daughters, Lily and Mary, both of whom also became health care professionals-Lily as a physical therapist and Mary as an ophthalmologist.
She was fluent in Armenian, Russian, Persian and English. She was active in the Armenian community in her adopted homeland, serving at both the Holy Cross Church of Armenia and later at the St. James (now St. Gregory) parish in Westchester County.
Marianna is survived by her daughters Lily and Mary, by her son-in-laws Stephen Mekenian and Haig Sarkissian, and by four grandchildren, Gregory Mekenian, Ani Mekenian, Avo Sarkissian, and Andrew Sarkissian. She is also survived by her sisters Lucik Melikian of Sherman Oaks, California, and Zina Avanessian of Teheran, Iran, by her nephews George Melikian, Vahe Avanessian, and Varoujan Avanessian and their families, by her cousins Adrena Aiazian, Edik Moradians, Vigen Moradians, Tania Walker and their families, and by many other cousins, friends and former work colleagues. The family would like to thank Heidi, Carmen, and Tess for their assistance, patience and love in helping to care for Marianna during her final years with us.
