Rose Andonyan

Rose (Yaghmour) Andonyan passed away on January 21, 2025 at age 93. She passed peacefully with her loved ones by her side. Rose was born in Tal Abyad, Syria on December 17, 1931. Born to a family of Armenian Genocide survivors. Daughter of Abdo Yaghmour, son of Ferris and Lucia Yaghmour, and Anna Tashjian, daughter of Garabed and Mariam Tashjian. Loving mother of George (Olivia) Andonyan and Dr. Ann (Vrej) Kheshvadjian. Cherished grandmother of Evan, Gia and Beau Andonyan and Hunter and Lauren Kheshvadjian. Beloved wife of the late Andrew Zohrab Andonyan. Rose lived a life full of love, hard work and strength. Her humor and spirit will be deeply missed by her family and friends and all who knew her in the community.

Rose valued education very highly. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Arabic literature. She was a principal, teacher and entrepreneur in Syria, Algeria, and the United States. She immigrated to New York City in 1969. There she met her husband and had a son and daughter before moving to Phoenix in 1978. She and her husband opened the first Mediterranean grocery store in the city of Phoenix, named Ararat Foods. She set up tents in many food festivals in the Phoenix area showcasing the foods of her culture for the community. Rose was known for making delicious baklava and many other delicacies. She loved serving traditional recipes to her family. She was extremely proud of her children and her grandchildren. She always demonstrated selfless and unconditional love for her family. Rose lived the American dream. She and her husband came to this country without a penny to their name. With pure determination, they were able to support their children to become a successful aerospace engineer/attorney and physician. Rose played an instrumental role in bringing relatives to America where they could experience prosperity and freedom in this country. She had an amazing sense of humor. She would easily put a smile on the face of anyone she would meet. She was very small in stature but her personality was very mighty. Her faith, including many prayers to St. Charbel helped her miraculously beat pancreatic cancer. She was a devoted and loving matriarch of the family. We will all miss her dearly, but her memory and legacy will live on forever.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. 8849 E. Cholla Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Immediately following the funeral service, the burial service will be held at Greenwood Memory Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona 2300 W Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85009. 

The memorial meal will take place after the burial service at St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial donations in Rose’s memory be made to St. Apkar Armenian Church. If you would like to make a donation online, please go to the St. Apkar Armenian Church website at stapkar.com.