Anita (Chaputian) Vartanian
Anita (Chaputian) Vartanian, died peacefully on November 29, 2021. She was 91 years old and was born February 12, 1930 in New York City. Family members along with her loving and faithful caregivers kept her company and gave her comfort during her final days and hours. Anita was the daughter of Henry and Margaret Chaputian. She is survived by loving family members, her children, grandchildren and their families: Hugh Vartanian (wife Luann Colombo, daughter Delaney Kay Vartanian and husband Kevin Ford), April Vartanian, Byron Vartanian, Margaret Harris and Tom Harris (children Millie Sophia Harris and Andrew Vartan Harris). There are many extended family members in the Providence and New York metropolitan areas as well. Anita was pre-deceased by her parents, brother Henry Chaputian, Jr., husband Vartan Vartanian, grandson Douglas Matthew Vartanian and sister-in-law Marie Vartanian.
Anita was born and raised in New York City. She lived in New York following her marriage to Vartan (Bob) in December 1955. From there they settled in Framingham, MA where they started their family, moved to Barrington, RI for most of the 1960s, then to Winchester MA for 6 years and finally returned to Barrington in 1975, where she resided until the present.
She graduated from Columbia University Teacher’s College with a BS in Sociology and Psychology. While in the midst of raising her family, she attended Northeastern University at night where she earned a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. She held many rewarding and interesting jobs in Rhode Island, including career development counselor at Brown University, Associate Professor of English at Johnson and Wales University, a Docent at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and an interpretational tour guide for the Newport Preservation Society. Anita greatly enjoyed music. She played the piano and was an was an accomplished singer. She has sung in many church and community choirs including the Presbyterian church choir in New York’s Washington Heights, St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, MA, RI Civic Chorale, and the Bristol Community Chorus. Most recently she sang as a choir member and soloist at the Barrington United Methodist Church to the delight of the congregants. Apart from having many favorite hymns, she enjoyed reading the Bible and made nightly prayers a staple in her life.
Anita will always be remembered for her kindest of dispositions, loving heart, sharp mind and keen sense of humor. She was beloved by her family and many dear friends alike, all of whom will miss her presence while keeping her memory alive in their hearts.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, December 11th from 4-7 PM at the Smith-Mason funeral home at 398 Willett Ave. in Riverside, RI 02915.
There will be a memorial service on Sunday, December 12th at 2PM at the Barrington United Methodist Church, 230 Washington Rd., Barrington, RI 02806. In-person attendance will be limited by Covid-related protocols. The service will be shared via Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83458200347 .
Additional visiting hours will be held at the Vander Plaat funeral home at 111 South Farview Ave., Paramus, NJ www.vanderplaat.com from 10AM to 1PM on Saturday December 18th. Following this, Anita will be interred with her parents and brother at the George Washington Park cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Barrington United Methodist Church http://bumcri.org/ 230 Washington Rd., Barrington, RI 02806, or the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church http://stsahmes.org/ 40 Common St. Providence, RI, 02908.
