Survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. She was the daughter of Tateos and Maritza Der Avedisian of Tokat, Turkey. She had 3 brothers and also a sister who had died as an infant. When she was 16 years old in 1915 the Turks came to her village and rounded up all the men. She witnessed their murders including her own father. Soon after all the women, children, and elderly were cleared from their homes and taken on a death march. During the march she was separated from her mother, who we can only assume was taken away to be killed. At this point only Armenouhi and her two younger brothers remained. These two brothers were starving but they were on a death march and could not get any food. They were dying and Armenouhi could do nothing about it. They asked her for watermelon to eat, but of course she couldn't get any. They begged for some watermelon until they starved to death. Armenouhi was eventually taken into a Turkish harem for about 4 years until a relative found out she was there and rescued her. She had twin daughters who might have died before she left. She married Haroutune Basmajian in Constantinople in 1921 and had two daughters Madeline and Rose. Twenty years later when she was dying from a heart condition she asked her husband for watermelon, just like her brothers had asked her for years before. She asked and asked, but as it was February they were not in season. He search all over for some anyone but of course could not find any for her. She died just like her brothers had, asking for watermelon.
Survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. She was the daughter of Tateos and Maritza Der Avedisian of Tokat, Turkey. She had 3 brothers and also a sister who had died as an infant. When she was 16 years old in 1915 the Turks came to her village and rounded up all the men. She witnessed their murders including her own father. Soon after all the women, children, and elderly were cleared from their homes and taken on a death march. During the march she was separated from her mother, who we can only assume was taken away to be killed. At this point only Armenouhi and her two younger brothers remained. These two brothers were starving but they were on a death march and could not get any food. They were dying and Armenouhi could do nothing about it. They asked her for watermelon to eat, but of course she couldn't get any. They begged for some watermelon until they starved to death. Armenouhi was eventually taken into a Turkish harem for about 4 years until a relative found out she was there and rescued her. She had twin daughters who might have died before she left. She married Haroutune Basmajian in Constantinople in 1921 and had two daughters Madeline and Rose. Twenty years later when she was dying from a heart condition she asked her husband for watermelon, just like her brothers had asked her for years before. She asked and asked, but as it was February they were not in season. He search all over for some anyone but of course could not find any for her. She died just like her brothers had, asking for watermelon.
Family Members
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- Delaware County Basmajian or Der Avedisian
- Pennsylvania Basmajian or Der Avedisian
- USA Basmajian or Der Avedisian
- Find a Grave Basmajian or Der Avedisian
