Angel S. Abajian

February 3, 1920 - June 27, 2021

Angeline Silvester Abajian, born February 2, 1920 on 68 Judson Street in Hartford, Connecticut to Ralphael and Giacinta Silvestri. She was the youngest of ten brothers and sisters whom she dearly loved. Having lost her mother, father, and oldest brother within a three year timeframe between the ages of seven and ten; Angel lived with her older siblings in Hartford. She would describe herself as a survivor, one who was shaped from her circumstances, yet she learned to lean on the support and love of her family to make it through those times. Anyone who has received a phone call or letter from Angel understands this deep love as she would adopt you into her family, regardless of relation to herself. It was in growing up that she shared that love of family while watching her brothers draw blueprint plans for homes or taking trips to the beach on the Connecticut shorelines. It was there that she met her husband, Charles Abajian in 1948 and had two sons, Mark and Ralph. These two boys were the joy of her world, as she detailed such fond memories of them growing up whether it be Mark locking her out of the apartment at sixteen months or Ralph sneaking into Carmen’s house to call out “Mark and his Mother.” According to her, she did the best she could with both sons, suffering and celebrating alongside them every step in their lives. Those traits were passed down to her kin and influenced the immediate families of Mark and Katheryn and Ralph and Debra. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the beneficiaries of this unconditional love having heard the words often that they are “her heart” as she would give the whole world if she could to her family. Her marriage took her to Fresno, California, where she was away from the safety net of her immediate family; yet fashioned relationships to become extended family for her sons. There was never a dull moment in Fresno, as she crafted and valued her “forever friends”, developed a taste for Keyma, and enjoyed herself at the horse races every October at the Big Fresno Fair. By 1964, she had accomplished one of her goals by graduating from Fresno City College with an Associates of Arts degree and making the Dean’s list (not to mention the oldest one in her class as well). Ask any grandchild and they will tell you each called up “Nonna” for help with homework while in school, listing her as the smartest woman they knew. Her mind was sharp, even through the century mark in age as crossword puzzles would challenge her and the 7:00pm time slot was blocked off for Jeopardy on a daily basis to feed her mind. It was later in life that Angel found her wings through her faith in Jesus and her devotion to the Catholic church. In her spare time, you could watch her take the rosary beads in her hands, praying for the on-going list of friends and family. That love of Christ compelled her to sit in the pain and mess of others tragedies and sins, while pointing them to Jesus and inviting them into the Catholic faith. Never shy about her faith and never doubtful of her eternal resting place, Angel humbly modeled what it meant to welcome in anyone, no matter his/her past. She basked in the beauty of God's creation, taking up her artwork (in which her great-grandchildren have lovingly referred to her as an artist) to paint one of her most favorite places in Fresno, the Shinzen Friendship Garden. Having been the editor of their monthly newsletter for several years, she was honored with a small island in the garden when she retired. Many times you could find her walking in that garden, or in later years, dreaming of the koi fish ponds and seasonal changes in the park. It was with a full heart, calm spirit, and patient joy that Angeline was taken to heaven on Sunday, June 27th, 2021 at the age of 101 years old. She is all of our hearts and favorite as the Lord took up His earthly angel. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Padre Pio Foundation of America or the Shinzen Friendship Garden.