Shakay "Jackie" Mooradian

Beloved wife of the late Cross "Hatcho".

Loving mother of Karen (Greg) Florka Walker, John (the late Cindy Sherrit) Mooradian, Phillip (Catiana) Mooradian, Cross (Karen) Mooradian and the late Jack Mooradian.

Dear grandmother of Max Florka, Cross Mooradian, Christopher Mooradian, Harry Mooradian, Sion Mooradian, Megan (Bill) Grimaldi, Brenna (Matt) Burlile and great-grandmother of Liam Grimaldi.  

Visitation Friday, October 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Armenian Church.

Funeral to begin at 11:00 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations are to St. John Armenian Church Komitas Choir or A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian School or Paros Foundation.  

 

 

Shakay “Jackie” Mooradian (nee Mirakian), the oldest child of Lousaper Pilibosian and Ohannes Tarkanian Mirakian was born at home on March 2, 1924.

Her parents were Armenian refugees from Afion-Karahissar and Malatya, Turkey whose harrowing stories of escape gave them a common bond that many Armenians of that time shared.  They met and married in Greece before moving to Cleveland, Ohio where Shakay grew up. Soon her brother Nazar (Nat) was born, followed a few years later by Souren (Sam), the youngest, completing the family. Why Cleveland? Because Ohannes had been in the United States and had decided that Cleveland was the “nicest place” to raise their future family. He hadn’t been to California…

Shakay’s first languages were Armenian and Turkish and she learned English when she went to school. Like so many children of immigrants, she soon became interpreter and translator for her parents whenever they needed to communicate in English. She excelled in school and despite her father’s objections to her being schooled beyond just learning to read and write, she insisted on continuing her education and graduated from high school, where she was a member of the Latin Club and Glee Club. Shakay loved learning and hoped to attend college, but that became impossible when her father became disabled and could no longer work. With her brother Nazar away at war in Europe and Souren still a boy, she had to work to support her family, and took on that responsibility, happy in the knowledge that she was able to help.

After high school she worked for several years contributing to America’s war effort as a skilled lab technician measuring and analyzing steel samples in the spectroscopy lab of Republic Steel, whose steel went to manufacturing munitions, tanks, and fighter planes.

In 1952 she met her future husband, Hatcho (Cross) Mooradian of Detroit, whose father was also from Malatya. They married in 1953 and Shakay moved to Michigan where they raised their family of 5 children: Karen, John, Phillip, Cross and Jack in Detroit, Oak Park and Bloomfield Hills. Later on, the family grew with the addition of grandchildren and a great grandchild.

When talking to people about Shakay, two words come up consistently:

Intellectual – She was interested in history, art, and the world. She read all the time, learning mostly about her area of special interest, history. When failing eyesight made reading impossible, daughter Karen and grandson Max would read to her for hours. You could ask her just about anything about European history and culture and she would have the answer. Ancient cultures were of particular interest to her and she relished when she was able to walk on the Parthenon in Greece and among ancient Pagan temples and Christian churches in Armenia. Her intellect, curiosity and love of learning extended into areas that one might not expect. For example, she was fascinated by the bio-diversity on Earth and loved watching nature shows on TV, learning about the natural world as well as about animals, their habitats and habits. She was curious and knowledgeable about different places, cultures and peoples.

Social – While never loud or the life of the party, she enjoyed people immensely, and was comfortable in any social setting. She was a great listener and would draw people out with her genuine curiosity about them and their lives. Never intrusive, but always interested, people loved talking with her and always came away feeling good about themselves. With her quiet, wry sense of humor and ready laugh, people loved Shakay. She was simply charming.

Her later years were physically difficult as she lost her mobility and independence, but she never lost her positive attitude, curious mind and will to live. Up until a few days before her death from COVID-19, she was asking Karen to tell her stories and to read to her.

Karen describes Shakay as the calmest, least critical, and most accepting person she has ever met, whether in person or even among fictional characters. She was truly pure of heart and non-judgmental, never having a mean word to say about anyone. She saw the good in every person, always believing the best about everyone she encountered.  She was a kind soul, whose presence on Earth enriched those who had the pleasure of knowing her.