Mary Stapanian

Mary Armenouhe (nee Shahinian) Stapanian, 100 years old of Cincinnati, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Hospice of Cincinnati-Blue Ash. Mary was born to Margos and Agnes (nee Boyadjian) Shahinian—survivors of the Armenian genocide in Turkey-- on October 19, 1921, in Racine, Wisconsin.

During World War II, Mary proudly worked as a real-life “Rosie the Riveter,” building military aircraft such as the B-26 Marauder.

In 1947 she married the love of her life, Myron Stapanian. They had four children together- Maritza, Juliette, Martin, and Marylis.

Mary received a B.A. in French at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Education at the University of Cincinnati. She taught foreign languages for 22 years in the Cincinnati Public Schools. She also taught journalism and was faculty advisor for the school newspaper and soccer club. During retirement she served as a volunteer teacher at Fairfax Elementary School.

Mary had a love for music, painting, nature, gardening, hiking, and for being outdoors. She enjoyed traveling all over the world with her husband, but their favorite place was Paris. She was a skilled seamstress and cook, particularly of Armenian and French cuisine.

She was a kind and generous woman, donating many hours of volunteer work in the village of Fairfax and the Marielders Senior Center. For her outstanding service she was awarded the Fairfax “Citizen of the Year” in 2011.

Mary was a compassionate and loving wife, mother, nana, and great nana. She will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Myron Stapanian; daughter Maritza (William) Crabtree; brothers Jack and Sam Shahinian; son-in-law Robert Apkarian; and daughter-in-law, Adrienne (nee Petersen) Stapanian.

Mary is survived by her children Juliette Apkarian, Martin Stapanian, and Marylis (Robert) Rigdon; grandchildren Renee (Sara Boan) Rigdon, Steven (Brooke) Rigdon, and Kevin Stapanian; great-grandchildren Amelia, Logan, and Miles Rigdon; sister, Alice (Simon) Bajaksouzian; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 19th from 10:00AM-11:00AM with a funeral service at 11:00AM; all at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason, OH 45040. (Please mask)

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to Hospice of Cincinnati-Blue Ash or Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).