Born in Arapkir, Turkey, she was the daughter of Mikael and Almaskar Davidian. Her father Mikael moved to Massachusetts around 1911 to establish himself there, with plans of bringing his family later. These plans were interrupted by the Armenian Geocide of 1915, which Almaskar and Zovinar survived. Zovinar is likely the "Zovinar Tashjian", age 10 in a census of Arapkir survivors taken in 1919-1920, living in the Shahroz to Shuga neighborhood. The reason for the different last name is unknown, but it is almost certainly her as also listed in that neighborhood are an Almaskar Der Avedisian (her mother's maiden name) and an Elmas Tashjian (likely a duplicate), and two listings for a Takoumar Der Avedisian and Tashjian, likely Almaskar's mother. Life in Arapkir became increasingly dangerous and unsustainable for Armenians when Ataturk took over in 1923, and many of them soon left in caravans for Aleppo, including Zovinar and Almaskar. A family story describes Zovinar and her mother traveling through Eastern Europe, including taking a train on which Zovinar fell ill and nearly died, which worried her mother to the brink of death also. They survived and made it to Riga, Latvia, where they lived for a time before emigrating to the United States in 1928 where they were finally reunited with Zovinar's father Mikael. Zovinar was the mother of Setrak "Ed Derian", Anahid, and Susan Ejdaharian, along with two others who each died at only a few days old. Her husband Diran died of a heart attack, leaving her a widow at age 50 with a young daughter whom she raised herself. She was an excellent cook who often hosted dinners for her many extended relatives in Philadelphia. Zovinar lived to see her 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Born in Arapkir, Turkey, she was the daughter of Mikael and Almaskar Davidian. Her father Mikael moved to Massachusetts around 1911 to establish himself there, with plans of bringing his family later. These plans were interrupted by the Armenian Geocide of 1915, which Almaskar and Zovinar survived. Zovinar is likely the "Zovinar Tashjian", age 10 in a census of Arapkir survivors taken in 1919-1920, living in the Shahroz to Shuga neighborhood. The reason for the different last name is unknown, but it is almost certainly her as also listed in that neighborhood are an Almaskar Der Avedisian (her mother's maiden name) and an Elmas Tashjian (likely a duplicate), and two listings for a Takoumar Der Avedisian and Tashjian, likely Almaskar's mother. Life in Arapkir became increasingly dangerous and unsustainable for Armenians when Ataturk took over in 1923, and many of them soon left in caravans for Aleppo, including Zovinar and Almaskar. A family story describes Zovinar and her mother traveling through Eastern Europe, including taking a train on which Zovinar fell ill and nearly died, which worried her mother to the brink of death also. They survived and made it to Riga, Latvia, where they lived for a time before emigrating to the United States in 1928 where they were finally reunited with Zovinar's father Mikael. Zovinar was the mother of Setrak "Ed Derian", Anahid, and Susan Ejdaharian, along with two others who each died at only a few days old. Her husband Diran died of a heart attack, leaving her a widow at age 50 with a young daughter whom she raised herself. She was an excellent cook who often hosted dinners for her many extended relatives in Philadelphia. Zovinar lived to see her 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
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