Obituary of Izabelle Kandarjian

Izabelle “Zabel” Haddad Kandarjian, Age 95 of Cliffside Park, NJ, passed away on April 17, 2020. She was born in April, 1925 in Aleppo, Syria. Devoted Wife to late Antranig Kandarjian who passed on October, 18, 1989. Beloved Mother to her five children: Bedros, her twins Robert and Rose, Lenna Freedman and Vahe. Dear sister to Loutfi Haddad, Susan Ameika who passed on October 24, 2017 and Rosa Cholak who passed in 1999. Loving Grandmother to Alek, Ani, Christian and Bridget, and aunt to nine nephews and two nieces. Her parents, Daoud Haddad and Yeranik Nanorian, both from Dikranagerd, Western Armenia (current day Diyarbekir, Turkey) married in 1919 and moved to Aleppo, Syria in 1925. She was the first born child to her parents who had survived the Armenian Genocide, and, like her parents, she was a survivor of many hardships with enormous reservoir of endurance, adaptability and courage. Her father died in 1943 and Zabel, who loved education and was a model student, dropped out of the French Missionary School for Girls to help support her family by working in custom dressmaking. Zabel moved with her mother, brother and sister from Aleppo, Syria to Beirut, Lebanon in 1949 due to political and economic instability in Syria. On January 6, 1952, she married Antranig Kandarjian in Beirut, who, like her parents, was born in Dikranagerd, Turkey. The Kandarjian family with the five children moved to USA on March, 22, 1969 and in 1972 settled in Cliffside Park, NJ. Zabel was a custom dressmaker and interior designer. She spoke four languages: Armenian (standard and Dikranagertsi dialect), Arabic, English, Turkish and a little French. She cherished her Armenian roots and heritage, the church and Armenian cooking, and was famous for her Khavourma recipe (Armenian meat dish) at the many church bazaars at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Ridgfield, NJ. She learned how to drive a car at age 50 and would fearlessly drive to New York City with her husband to buy fabrics and explore the city. She also enjoyed driving her church friends to outings and food shopping. She loved to learn and was curious about different cultures around the world and fortunately had the opportunity to travel to numerous countries with her husband Antranig. She had a thirst and deep curiosity for world events and read daily the latest news and watched her international news channels; she rarely watched movies saying, “My life has been a movie.” She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends and like many Armenian women of her age and tradition, she was a great cook with a refined palate who showered her love through memorable Armenian dishes. Zabel will be greatly missed by her family and friends who enjoyed her wit, sharp mind, humor, and her captivating storytelling of life events. Asdvadz Hokin Lousavore (May God shine her soul). In Lieu of flowers, those who would like to make a donation, please gift to: Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, 461 Bergen Blvd. Ridgefield, New Jersey 07657, in honor of Zabel Kandarjian. A Private Burial will be held at George Washington Memorial Park on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Arrangements by the Konopka Funeral Home, 9046 Palisade Avenue, North Bergen, NJ.