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In Memoriam
Owner and operator of her own business, B.L. Avakian Oriental Rugs, she is survived by her husband, Peter Avakian; daughters, Helen Avakian and Lucille Turnavian; and her cousin, Marion Covitz of Old Tappan, NJ.
Born in Hackensack, NJ October 27, 1933, Barbara graduated from Teaneck High School in 1951. She received her Bachelor's degree from Wellesley College in 1955 and her Master's degree from Northeastern in 1958. After a year of teaching English in Germany, she and her husband, Peter Avakian, came to DE in 1960 when he began employment as a physicist at DuPont. Barbara taught at Dickinson High School until 1963 when she stayed home to raise 2 daughters, Helen R. Avakian, who now lives with her husband, Terry Champlin in Pleasant Valley, NY, and Lucille L. Turnavian, who now lives in Hockessin DE with her husband, Steve Turnavian. In the 1970s, Barbara was involved with masters swimming, horseback riding and pottery. She was president of the Delaware Crafts Council and showed her pottery and weavings locally. In 1977, she started B.L. Avakian Oriental Rugs which will be continued by Lucille and Steve Turnavian. Barbara gave courses and lectures about oriental rugs and was a member of the Oriental Rug Retailers of America. She enjoyed singing with an amateur choir, The Associates, and her other hobbies included gardening, nature walks, watercolors and writing. She was active in the Delaware Wellesley Alumni Association. She was a founding member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek and a member of the New Building Design Committee. A Memorial Service was held at 3 pm Sunday, July 23 at the First Unitarian Church, 730 Halstead Rd., Wilmington, DE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek Building Fund, PO Box 625, Hockessin DE 19707 or Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, 110 Old Possum Hollow Rd., Newark, DE 19711. [If you would like to submit memories of Barbara, anecdotes, or things you wish you could have told her, please email her daughter, Lucille.] | ||||||
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