Clara Manasserians Benyamin, 88, of Normal, died at 9:23 p.m. Friday (June 6, 2014) at her home.

She was born on March 21, 1926 in Urmia, Iran, the daughter of Alexander and Nana Odisho Manasserians. She married Issa Benyamin on Aug. 31, 1957, in Tehran, Iran. He preceded her in death on Jan. 13, 2014. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Fredrick and two sisters, Hilda and Frieda.

Survivors include a son, Dr. Ramsin (Jizet) Benyamin; a daughter, Ramica (Dr. Benjamin) Benyamin-Taimoorazy; four granddaughters and one sister, Victoria Manasserians.

After graduating high school, she attended college and got her bachelor's degree in English literature. This happened at a time when women were not expected to pursue higher education.

She started her career in teaching and taught at the same high school until she retired after 27 years. She spent the final three decades of her life along with the rest of her family in America and was a proud U.S. citizen.

Published in the Bloomington, Il. Pantagraph June 10, 2014

Clara Manasserians Benyamin, 88, of Normal, died at 9:23 p.m. Friday (June 6, 2014) at her home.

She was born on March 21, 1926 in Urmia, Iran, the daughter of Alexander and Nana Odisho Manasserians. She married Issa Benyamin on Aug. 31, 1957, in Tehran, Iran. He preceded her in death on Jan. 13, 2014. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Fredrick and two sisters, Hilda and Frieda.

Survivors include a son, Dr. Ramsin (Jizet) Benyamin; a daughter, Ramica (Dr. Benjamin) Benyamin-Taimoorazy; four granddaughters and one sister, Victoria Manasserians.

After graduating high school, she attended college and got her bachelor's degree in English literature. This happened at a time when women were not expected to pursue higher education.

She started her career in teaching and taught at the same high school until she retired after 27 years. She spent the final three decades of her life along with the rest of her family in America and was a proud U.S. citizen.

Published in the Bloomington, Il. Pantagraph June 10, 2014