Alice Elizabeta Bohdjelian

Alice Elizabeta Bohdjelian, age 92, entered her eternal rest on December 24, 2020.

Alice was born in Galati, Romania on April 22, 1928, the daughter of Rosa (nee Lazarovici) and Avedis Bohdjelian, her family in the textile manufacturing and trade business.  She had two siblings, an eldest sister who died in infancy and an older brother Andrei.  She grew up in Galati going to an all-girls Catholic primary and middle school.  Shortly after Romania entered WWII her father passed away and the family relocated to Romania’s capital Bucharest and Alice continued her education at a public high school.  There were interruptions, especially during the 1944 Allied bombings of Bucharest when the family took temporary refuge in more rural areas.  With the end of the war, the family was able to return to Bucharest, but with the Communist government takeover and nationalizations, the family’s circumstances changed drastically.  However, they, as a family, succeeded in maintaining a level of normalcy and the children were able to continue their education, relatively unimpeded, through the university level.  Alice received her degree in early childhood education, but with the only related job prospect being in a far-off town, she opted for a job as a bookkeeper for a manufacturing facility in Bucharest.  It was there that she forged many life-long friendships many of which continued after emigrating to the US.  Alice married Peter Bohdjelian in 1957 and in early 1958 their only child, Aram was born.  Due to their pre-Communist era socio-economic status, their prospects under the current regime was limited, so like other ethnic Armenians in Romania at that time, including many of their relatives, they chose to emigrate.  After a temporary stay of nearly two years in Beirut, Lebanon, they arrived in the US in late 1964, settling in Upper Darby PA, where they spent the next 17 years.  During that time Alice first took a job as a seamstress, until in 1975 found a job as a bookkeeper, a position that she grew in and kept until her retirement in 1993.  In 1982 the family moved to East Norriton, PA following her son Aram’s university graduation.  After retirement Alice kept busy by hiring herself out for child-sitting services to young professional families and in the process forged new friendships, one of which continued until her passing.  With the arrival of her grandsons in 1996 and 1998 respectively she became a full-time loving day-care grandmother, a role that she basked in, and a great support for her daughter in law Linda and son Aram.  In her retirement she became an avid and extensive traveler, having caught the travel bug on family trips shortly after arriving in the US.  With friends and in-laws, she travelled through Turkey, China, Atlantic Canada and throughout Europe – her returning flight was even turned back to London on 9-11.  She always kept abreast of current events and kept a subscription to the Wall Street Journal, which she read daily, until her passing.  She took great pleasure in her grandsons’ activities, attending many township basketball and baseball games and she found great solace in her Church community at St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church.  While her loss is just now sinking into all of us, we find comfort in knowing that she lives on in our hearts and we’ll meet again on the other side.  Donations in her memory can be made to St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church or the Armenian Sisters’ Academy in Radnor, PA. or A Charity of your Choosing.  See below for Addresses.

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