WORCESTER — Ruth M. Aroian, 94, died on Saturday, August 11, at the Willows Healthcare Center.
She was born in Sterling, Mass., on July 7, 1918, the daughter of Krekor and Maritza (Vartabedian) Aroian. She graduated from Classical High School and attended the Worcester Art Museum School. She worked at Worcester Taper Pin Co. for 20 years as a World War II government- trained inspector of machine parts.
A feisty, sharp, intellectual and talented writer, Aroian published Northerly 12 Miles about farm life in bucolic Sterling. She also published many poems in Armenian- American publications and constantly sought justice for the Armenian Genocide. (See her poem below.)
Known as the Health Center’s “best knitter,” she sent to the needy children of Armenia more than 1,000 winter hats in the past six years. At her Willows home, she wrote more than 100 poems for her fellow residents.
She leaves among others, cousins, Van and Mary Aroian of Worcester. In addition to her parents, Aroian was predeceased by her sib- lings, Zabel, Zaven and Roger.
The funeral service was held on Tuesday, August 14, at Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Salisbury St., with Father Aved Terzian officiating. Interment was in Hillside Cemetery, Sterling.
