Khanem Oghassian

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I’m Martin Azarian. My grandmother Khanem Oghassian was born in Baghin, Palou, Armenia, in 1907. At almost eight years old, she was the only one in her immediate family to survive the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Little is known about her late childhood or teenage years.

American immigration restrictions after the First World War prevented Khanem from emigrating to the United States. The family remembers she traveled to the United States by ship, but could not enter an American port. The ship headed to Cuba. There, she resided in the Armenian community in Havana, Cuba, where she married her husband, Sarkis Azarian, and had three children: Maria, Martin, and Alicia. After Sarkis died of tuberculosis in 1941, she remarried an Armenian gentleman named John Chelebian from Dikranagerd, Armenia.

Shortly after the Second World War, Khanem and her family settled in Providence, Rhode Island. There, she enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, and going to church. Khanem died in 1984 from Alzheimer’s disease when she was 77. Her husband died less than three days later. Her memory is carried on by her seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

By Martin, Donna, Alexa & Adriana Azarian