The Life of Victoria Sagherian

Victoria Sagherian (Vickey) died peacefully with her daughter Joanne at her side on the evening of November 18 at her home in Riddle Village in Media, PA.                                   

Vickey was born on September 6, 1925 in West Philadelphia to Rose and Khoren Bakalian who both immigrated from Armenia. She had an older sister Virginia and a younger brother Leon (both deceased.)  She attended public school where she met her best friend of 70 years in kindergarten-- the late Victoria Kazanjian (Kesdekian). After graduating from high school, Vickey began working for an insurance company by typing policies. With the exception of her years raising young children, with only a high school education Vickey had a very successful career at Germantown Insurance Company. She become a vice president in the late 1970’s, and though she turned it down, was later asked to be the president of the company.   

Vickey married her adoring husband John Sagherian on September 8, 1945 after his return from the serving in the Navy in the South Pacific; though opposites in many ways, they had a happy marriage and raised Joanne and David at in Upper Darby. The extended family spent many laughter-filled holidays at their home, sometimes with her “famous” blueberry pie for dessert. John and Vickey enjoyed playing bridge and other card games and travelling to many parts of the country and world with their close-knit group of Armenian couples who remained their good friends throughout their lives.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

After the sudden loss of John in November of 1990, Vickey moved to a retirement community in 1996.  She enjoyed her very independent years at Riddle Village where she made many new friends with whom she played pool and cards, and who she helped care for in their declining years. To the surprise of her children and friends she was very competitive at her new-found activity of pool and won many trophies at Riddle. She also knitted baby caps for premature babies at the local hospitals and made many afghans to keep friends and family warm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

In 2011 Vickey was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and while her activities slowed, and the more recent COVID19 pandemic interfered even more, she maintained her tenacity and determination as her wonderful caregivers at Riddle Village during that time surely know.                                                                                                                                             

Vickey is survived by her loving son, David, daughter, Joanne, grandsons Dan, (Catherine), Liam, and Aidan, and great-grandson Gabriel. We know she was loved as well by her sister-in-law Dolores Bakalian and nieces and nephews Suzanne Amonson Brunhammer, Eric Amonson, Cynthia Bakalian, Craig (Belinda) Bakalian and as well as Andrew Jingozian, (deceased) wife Nancy, Luke Jingozian, and Ken Jingozian (Astrid) and their families.                                                                                                                                                   

Vickey was a smart, tenacious, principled, caring and determined woman who was loved by all who knew her.  She was a modern woman who did her part to push against the glass ceiling during her career and she maintained all those wonderful qualities to the end.  She will be dearly missed by all.                                                                                               

There will be a graveside service at Arlington Cemetary 2900 State Rd, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 at 1PM on Tuesday, November 23.  Anyone planning to attend should meet at the cemetery office building by that time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Please note, the family is planning to hold an online celebration of Vickey’s life in the coming months for anyone who would like to share stories or remembrances of our dear Vickey. We hope you will attend this gathering.  If you would like to, please  send your email address to the Victoria Sagherian Online Rememberance at j4vsegharian@earthlink.net at any time; details will be forwarded to you.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Sahag St. Mesrob Armenian Church, 630 Clothier Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096 or to the  Alzheimer's Association, Delaware Valley Chapter, information provided below.

Donations may be made to:

Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter
399 Market St. Suite 102, Philadelphia PA 19106
Tel: 1-215-561-2919
Web: http://alz.org/delval

St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church
630 Clothier Rd., Wynnewood PA 19096
Tel: 1-610-642-4212