Mary Zakarian, 92, passed on March 27, 2020 at St. Joseph's Manor in Meadowbrook. She was born in Philadelphia on June 15, 1927 to Moses and Arek (Kocharian) Zakarian. Mary was a graduate of Philadelphia High School for Girls, and attended Moore College of Art. She was an artist and teacher who founded the Zakarian School of Art in Northeast Philadelphia in 1971 and taught there for 35 years. She was a devoted congregant of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, where she taught Sunday school and was school superintendent in the 1950's and 1960's. Her paintings adorn the altar of St. Gregory's and other churches. She received numerous grants throughout her career, and was commissioned to paint a portrait for the 100th anniversary commemoration of Ellis Island. Her work dealt principally with the immigrant experience, especially that of her own ethnic group. She was also a translator and an interviewer for the Armenian Assembly Oral History Project, which recorded the narratives of survivors of the 1915 Genocide of the Armenians in Ottoman Turkey. Mary's parents were genocide survivors.

Mary was predeceased by her siblings Rose Arpajian, Sosie Kachikian, and Paul Zakarian. She is survived by her nieces Susan Arpajian Jolley and Karen Kachikian Massar; her nephews Allan Arpajian, Robert Kachikian, Daron Zakarian, and Adam Zakarian; and eleven grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Funeral services will be private.

Donations may be made to St. Gregory's.