03/04/2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Marion Palanjian, wife of Jerry Palanjian and mother of Jessica and Alex, passed away on January 16, 2021.
Marion (née Kachadorian) was born into a tight-knit community in Methuen, Massachusetts on the 29th of December in a year that we are not at liberty to share.
She was the daughter of her first generation Armenian American parents, George and Annie. She spent her early years in New England where she attended the Methuen school system and was an active member of the Ararat Congregational Church in Salem, New Hampshire.
After high school, Marion made the move to Boston where she earned a degree from Burdett College in business administration. She spent her carefree twenties traveling extensively and working as an executive secretary, mostly at Polaroid. Her lifelong commitment to documenting her family’s lives in photographs and her ability to take a perfectly composed photo can be attributed to her happy days at Polaroid.
After marrying Jerry in 1975, she made the move across the country to California. As a New Englander, she experienced quite a culture shock in the early years of her marriage, but she ultimately grew to consider Newport Beach her beloved home and herself a true Californian. She also considered Jerry the best thing that ever happened to her.
As the true loves of each other's lives, she and Jerry shared over 45 years of marriage, full of countless adventures, successful business ventures, beautiful homes, Saturday night dates with friends, Sunday night dinners with family, lots of hard work as well as some heartache. They raised two happily married children followed by four treasured grandchildren. Marion and Jerry built a wonderful life together filled with many cherished friends and family who will miss her dearly.
As a mother, Marion dedicated her days to raising her children and holding down the homefront while her husband was building the family business, Grand Prix Performance. Marion’s love for her children was bottomless and they are forever grateful for her devotion to them.
As a grandmother, or Mimi as she was known, she was funny and playful which endeared her to her grandchildren. She beamed in their presence, absolutely adored each of them and delighted in all of their unique attributes and gifts.
Marion was full of joie de vivre and possessed genuine curiosity, a wide range of interests, a keen memory and a wicked sense of humor. Her many interests included reading, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, travel, tap dancing, bridge, trips to Vegas and home (and holiday) decor. She will be remembered fondly for all the fun and laughter she brought to the lives of those who loved her as well as for her spirited style, including her custom pink wheels that her son made for her sassy white convertible.
While she blossomed in a community on the other side of the country, she never lost her Boston accent or the Armenian and Christian values with which she was raised. Marion was a formidable force of a woman who lit up every room she entered and made a lasting impression on those who crossed her path. She was without pretense or agenda. You always knew where you stood with Marion and in a world full of polite and impersonal interactions, her authenticity and honesty were a breath of fresh air.
Marion was often described as a classy and elegant woman, a gorgeous person inside and out. She tended towards inclusivity rather than exclusivity; there was always room for one more at Marion's dinner table. To know her was to love her and she will be remembered especially for her generous spirit, her incredible intuition, her beautiful smile, that mischievous twinkle in her eye and of course, her fabulous holiday decorations and apparel.
Marion was considered to be the glue that held the Palanjian family together and kept many traditions alive with her willingness to host nearly every holiday and milestone. Her children hope to honor her by carrying that torch forward.
She cherished her siblings and was heartbroken by the passing of her beloved sister, Georgiana, in recent years.
She is survived by her loving husband Jerry Palanjian, daughter Jessica Palanjian Rankin and her husband William Rankin, son Alex John Palanjian and his wife Nicole Palanjian, her grandchildren James, William, Violet and Jacqueline, brother Jim Kachadorian and wife Lea, sister Elaine Kachadorian, brother-in-law Jerry White, nieces Andrea White Tyrones and Jennifer Sammataro and nephews Erik White, George Kachadorian, Jim Sammataro and many loving cousins. And also her husband’s family whom she loved dearly and counted as her own.
A private burial was conducted by Father Moushegh Tashjian at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach in January. A memorial service will be held as soon as the family can throw the proper party Marion deserves, surely to include Maine lobster and the “house” Chardonnay.
In lieu of flowers, the Palanjian family is happy to recommend a donation to the following two charities that were close to Marion’s heart:
-The Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, which Marion supported for decades as a member of the Virginia Castle Auxiliary. Donations in memory of Marion Palanjian to support its philanthropic programs can be made by check and mailed to their office or on their website www.alnm.org.
-The Ararat Home of Los Angeles to support its mission of providing assisted living and nursing care facilities primarily for the Armenian community regardless of an individual's financial status. Donations may be mailed to them or made online at https://ararathome.org/donations/giving-opportunities
The family hopes you will think of Marion and smile the next time you play a game of Blackjack, sit down to watch Jeopardy, listen to Patsy Cline or enjoy a generous glass of wine.
The family would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to the countless friends, family members and members of our wonderful community who have kindly reached out to offer their love and support or share a good story about Marion. They encourage you to send any funny or fond memories via email to [email protected].
