Mary "Honey" Edwina (Aharonian) Handanyan

Mary "Honey" Edwina (Aharonian) Handanyan, 85, of Longmeadow, MA, formerly of Seekonk, MA, passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, MA. She was the loving and beloved wife of the late Dr. Donald James Handanyan to whom she was married on November 10, 1957 and who died on November 29, 2012.

Born on January 3, 1932 in Providence, RI, she was the daughter of the late Edward Aharonian, Sr. and the late Rose (Kachadorian) Aharonian.

Mary graduated from Classical High School in Providence, RI in 1950 and then attended the RI Hospital School of Nursing. Upon completion of nursing school in 1953, she worked as a Registered Nurse at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence before retiring in 1958.

A resident of Longmeadow since 2010, she previously lived in Seekonk, MA where she and her husband raised their family. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Attleboro, MA.

Mary was a long-time member of what is now the ARC of Bristol County serving as secretary in 1962 and chairing Camp-4-Fun from 1965-1975.

Mary had a long-time association with Beta Community Partnerships serving as Board President from 1979-1981. In the early 1980’s, she worked as Volunteer Coordinator, building relationships between individuals with disabilities and other community members through a program called Community of Friends, that continues today.

Mary was an avid reader who also loved music, playing the piano, painting with water colors, tending to her flower garden, and playing Scrabble. Mary's greatest joy and sense of accomplishment was always her family.

She is survived by her cherished children: Mark D. Handanyan of Longmeadow, MA; Donna R. (Handanyan) Poznar and her husband, Matthew J. Poznar, of Longmeadow, MA; and James M. Handanyan and his wife, Lynne A. (Cox) Handanyan, of Foster, RI. She was the adoring grandmother of Benjamin M. Handanyan of Cambridge, MA; Alexander J. Handanyan and Jacob C. Handanyan, both of Foster, RI; and Myriam R. Poznar and Javier J. Poznar, both of Longmeadow, MA. Mary was the sister of Edward "Buddy" Aharonian, Jr. and his wife, Edna (Stamp) Aharonian, of Downingtown, PA. She leaves several nieces and nephews, cousins, her extended family, and many dear friends.


Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend funeral services on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Centenary United Methodist Church, 39 North Main Street at Sanford Street, Attleboro, MA.

Burial will follow in Seekonk Cemetery, Seekonk, MA, at which time Mary will be laid to rest alongside her late husband.

In lieu of flowers, Mary's family has requested that memorial donations may be made in her name to either the Memorial Gift Fund of Centenary United Methodist Church, 39 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703; to The ARC of Bristol County, 141 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703; or to Beta Community Partnerships, 146 Bank Street, Attleboro, MA 02703.

For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200