Emilie P. Derkazarian

Please click here to view the Live Streaming of the Funeral Service for Emilie Derkazarian on Friday, June 30 2023 at 12pm https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/3958799903

Emilie P. Derkazarian (aka Em, Mom, Ma, Mama D, Grandma, Mrs D…), 78, passed away on June 21, 2023 surrounded by loved ones at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.  Emilie was a 15-year breast cancer survivor.  For the last several years, she valiantly endured various health challenges stemming from a diagnosis of non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which recently progressed beyond any medical intervention.

Emilie was born September 12, 1944 to Frances and Paul Mannina, in Brooklyn, New York.  She lived in Elmont, NY until moving to Maryland in 1966.  Early on, Emilie worked as a secretary for Prudential.  After her first two children were born, Emilie began her 30-year career with Giant Food, beginning as a cashier (on the “old style” registers), moving on to the store florist, and then travelling florist for several of the Giant stores.  Upon retiring from Giant Food, Emilie worked in customer service for Belair Engineering.  All of these jobs helped Emilie support her main life-long career of a professional mom and grandma.

Emilie was always “doing for everyone”, and rarely for herself.  She loved cooking feasts for her family and friends for any reason.  She loved shopping, all holidays, and shopping for people for the holidays (especially for the grandkids).  She threw the best theme parties with amazing décor, and food.  Emilie has always been very creative, as evidenced in recent years by her prolific coloring of mandala and other designs.  Some other of Emilie’s favorite things include family Uno tournaments, pink roses, the grandkids, lotto scratchers, dressing snazzy, lots of movies, make-up, her Christmas Santa house decoration, bowling, Willy Wonka game at MGM casino, baking xmas cookies, Hallmark channel, bingo, dancing, cannoli, and of course – the grandkids.

Emilie is survived by her daughter Lisa Derkazarian of Alexandria, VA, her son Paul (Vidia) Derkazarian of Upper Marlboro, MD, her son Warren (Katie) Derkazarian of Dunkirk, MD, and her beloved grandchildren Chad, Erin, Emily, and great-grandson Chase.  She is also survived by her sister Diane (Joe) Saudo of Mineola, NY, brother-in-law Bob Tizzano of Holtsville, NY (husband of predeceased sister Donna), and several beloved (great-) nieces and nephew.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Emilie to:  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or Susan G Komen (www.komen.org).  You may use Lderkazarian@hotmail.com for the donation notice.