Aranoosh Vivian (Shirajian) Yeretsian 101, of Cranston, joined her heavenly family on Friday June 27, 2025. She was born on October 28, 1923 in Aleppo, Syria to Reverend Aharon and Aroosiag (Apkarian) Shirajian.

 

Aranoosh was lovingly raised in a mission-driven and compassionate household where her devout Christian parents dedicated their lives to rebuilding the Armenian community in Syria following the Armenian Genocide of 1915. In Aleppo, they operated an orphanage that assisted countless widows and cared for more than 12,000 child survivors of the Genocide, teaching the Christian faith, Armenian language, and cultural traditions while empowering the community through an international handicrafts trade. Her father also secured land for displaced Armenians and helped found the Bethel and Emmanuel churches in Aleppo.

 

Fluent in Armenian, English, and French, Aranoosh had a deep interest in people’s stories and formed many close friendships in Aleppo. While excelling in school and social circles, she also played a vital role in supporting her parents’ mission—helping locate survivors, care for orphans, and teach the Armenian faith, language, and history. Alongside her older brother Ara, she often ran errands for the orphanage, including clerical work and hand-delivering messages. These formative experiences instilled in her a lifelong sense of dedication, diligence, and service to others.

 

At sixteen, Aranoosh lost her father, a profound loss that led to a meaningful connection with Hovannes “Johnny” Yeretsian of Jaffa, Palestine, a relative of her mother’s late first husband. Johnny sent a letter of condolence in English, and Aranoosh was asked to reply. That single exchange began a five-year correspondence that blossomed into love.

 

In 1947, Aranoosh and her brother Ara emigrated to the United States to join their older sister, Elise Yakoubian. Their mother followed soon after, and Johnny joined them shortly thereafter. Aranoosh and Johnny were married in 1957, eighteen years after their first letter. They settled in Cranston, where they built a loving home, raised their children Peter and Rita, and welcomed extended family and friends creating many cherished memories.

 

Aranoosh was a faithful member of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Cranston and worked as a designer in Providence’s jewelry industry. She became the family matriarch and the guardian of its extensive genealogical tree. If you wanted to know how someone was related, you asked Aranoosh. After Johnny’s passing in 2003, Aranoosh remained a vibrant and nurturing presence in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Always curious, always encouraging, and always making others feel special, she became affectionately known as “Metz”—short for Metzmama (Grandmother in Armenian). She was a pillar of love, strength, and connection. Her legacy is one of love, resilience, and faith and her family and community remain deeply blessed by her light.

 

Well into her nineties, Aranoosh was well known for creating unique, personalized jewelry for the younger women in her life (and they were all younger than her). When she gifted each piece, she would smile and request, “You have to wear this to my funeral.” Many of us were lucky enough to wear her handmade jewelry to her 100th birthday party in 2023—and will wear it once again this weekend as we gather to celebrate her extraordinary life for a woman who bridged continents, cultures, and generations.

 

The family extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who was part of Aranoosh’s life, you brought her great joy. Special thanks to the staffs at Scandinavian Home in Cranston and Steere House in Providence for the loving care they provided in her later years.

 

Aranoosh was the loving mother of Peter Yeretsian and Rita (Dan) Marcotte of Cranston, devoted Metzmama to Dana Marcotte of Los Angeles, CA, Ben Marcotte of Boston, MA, and Bruno Mars Marcotte of Cranston. She was the cherished “Auntie Aranoosh” to Grace Shiragian of Alexandria, VA, Joy Shiragian of Oakland, CA, and Daniel Yakoubian of Pacifica, CA, and beloved sister-in-law of Arpie Shiragian, and “Auntie Baba” to Alex and Charlie Beckner of Oakland, CA. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Aranoosh was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and all eleven of her older siblings, she was the last of her generation.

 

Visitation will be held on Friday July 11, 2025, from 5:00–7:00pm in The Butterfield Chapel 500 Pontiac Avenue Cranston. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday July 12, 2025 at 11:00am in the Armenian Evangelical Church 180 Oaklawn Avenue Cranston.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA 31 W. Century Road Paramus, NJ 07652) or the Armenian Evangelical Church 180 Oaklawn Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 organizations that continue the legacy of her parents’ humanitarian work.