Tinatin Khaziuri
March 20, 1954 ~ May 6, 2024
Resided in:
Fairfax, VA
Tinatin Khaziuri, fondly remembered as Tina, Tiniko, Tinachka, and Babo left us suddenly on May 5th, 2024 (we believe) in her sleep after suffering a day-long bout with an upset stomach.
Tina was born on March 20, 1954, to Klara Kokashvili and David (Dodik) Sorokin in Tbilisi, Georgia. She was raised by her grandmother, Haikanush and after graduating from Tibilisi 53rd school, entered Tbilisi Medical School, studying dentistry. She made her parents extremely proud when she was accepted into the medical school. Incredibly book-smart and well-read, Tina was also an amazing pianist, who would hear a song and then play it on piano a few minutes later. Studying piano was no small fit – Dodik, on several occasions, tore up the notes because Tina was being a whiny little girl refusing to practice those to perfection. Tina had an amazing voice as well, and every chance she got she sang her heart out. In October of 1976, she married George (Gomari) Khaziuri, and barely 9 months later in August had her daughter Mariam.
Tina was a great dentist and dental surgeon. She was known to be one of very few dentists who was able to treat drug lords and people with drug problems without complications and was well respected in her field, not to mention, that nobody could say a wrong word to her in the neighborhood where she practiced dentistry as she bountifully enjoyed the “protection” of the neighborhood gang. For many years during the toughest period in Soviet Georgia’s history, she was the breadwinner for the family and because of her, we had a soft landing while half of Georgia’s intelligencia was starving. She was also the doctor, who treated many many people without charging them a penny, often using her own medical supplies and paying out of her own pocket to the nursing staff for the same. She was an amazing doctor who could easily diagnose multiple other diseases and direct people to the right medical doctors. When her husband suffered a massive heart attack, she became an amazing caregiver doing everything in her power to help Gomari.
She was an extremely loving mother to Mariam and in her childhood often helped her with her studies when she got stuck. She took a lot of grief when she allowed Mariam to go to the US as an exchange student. Many people questioned her decision to let her only child come to America alone to study, but she never wavered. She believed in Mariam and eventually joined her in the US.
Without Tina’s help, Mariam would not have been able to raise her two daughters and build her career. Tina taught Mariam’s two kids, Maya and Layla the love of reading and books, she fed them, put them to sleep, kissed them, and showered them with love until her last day. She also watched every episode of Dora the Explorer, Peppa Pig, Backyardigans, and more with them, learning and improving her English skills. But before then, she managed to teach the little ones Georgian. Those two little humans were her entire life. She loved them dearly and was proud of them. She always boasted about their successes and diminished their failures, always told them how much she loved them and how proud she was of them. Not particularly fond of technology, Babo learned to text just so she could send sweet little crazy texts every day to the girls. They were her entire universe and she made sure they were raised well. The girls will forever miss Babo’s signature dish Uzbek pilaf and other recipes, and sadly Mariam and Babo will never open a restaurant, called “Dedas katleti” – aka, “Mom’s cutlet” – Tina was the queen chef of beef cutlets.
Tina was also one of the most hardworking people in the world. She worked until the day she passed as a caregiver. Becoming a US citizen was one of the best days of her life. She was accompanied by her
granddaughter when she took the oath of allegiance and was an exemplary citizen. She believed in contributing to this country and was looking forward to retiring by the end of this year.
When Tina loved someone, she loved them deeply and when she did not love them, she made sure they were aware of that. Tina was a character, a strong character, built strong through an extremely difficult life, and in spite of her hardships, she loved life, she loved her high school and medical school friends and she loved Georgia. Her heart ached for Georgia and she could not wait to see it flourish more.
Tina left a gaping hole in our hearts and an immense sense of unfulfilled wishes of her daughter to serve her more. The pain of her loss could not be deeper, but we find solace knowing she left in her sleep, with her Jesus and St. Mary’s icons next to her hand, and on Orthodox Easter, the best day for an Orthodox Christian to leave this world. We deeply regret not being able to hear her stories, and losing a loving parent, friend, and grandparent. May you rest in peace, Mama, and may your soul shine upon us in heaven. May God Almighty forgive what little transgressions you had and brighten your soul in heaven.
Tinatin Khaziuri is preceded by her husband, Gomar Khaziuri, mother, Klara Kokashvili, and father, David Sorokin, and grandparents, Goga and Haikanush Kokashvili.
Tina is survived by her daughter Mariam Khaziuri and son-in-law, Hicham Younes, two granddaughters, Maya and Layla, two cousins/brothers, Lev and Sasha Berman, and their lovely wives, Valya and Anna and their families, sister-in-law, Desdemona Khaziuri and her sons, Gia and Irakli Stefnadzes and their lovely wives and families, and many friends and extended family. May we all remember her laughing, playing piano, singing, joking, and enjoying a cigarette or two with her friends, and, especially, the best friend group from Medical School. We will forever miss you, Babo.
Visitation and Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 14th at Money & King Funeral Home at 171 Maple Ave W, Vienna VA 22180. Visitation: 1:30-2:30 pm, Life Celebration: 2:30-3:15 pm, Orthodox Christian funeral: 3:15-4:15 pm.
Burial will be held immediately after the funeral at Flint Hill Cemetery at 2845 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna VA 22181
Reception will be held at 5:30 pm at P.J. Skidoos at 9908 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Services
Visitation: May 14, 2024 1:30 pm - May 11, 2024 2:30 pm
Money and King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
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2024-05-14 13:30:00
2024-05-11 02:30:00
TinatinKhaziuriVisitation
Visitation
171 W. Maple Ave. ,Vienna, VA 22180
Celebration of Life: May 14, 2024 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Money and King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
Add to My Calendar
America/New_York
2024-05-14 14:30:00
2024-05-14 03:15:00
TinatinKhaziuriCelebration of Life
Celebration of Life
171 W. Maple Ave. ,Vienna, VA 22180
Funeral Service: May 14, 2024 3:15 pm - May 11, 2024 4:15 pm
Money and King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
Add to My Calendar
America/New_York
2024-05-14 15:15:00
2024-05-11 04:15:00
TinatinKhaziuriFuneral Service
Funeral Service
171 W. Maple Ave. ,Vienna, VA 22180
Graveside Service: May 14, 2024 5:00 pm
Flint Hill Cemetery
2845 Chain Bridge Road
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
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America/New_York
2024-05-14 17:00:00
2024-05-14 17:00:00
TinatinKhaziuriGraveside Service
Graveside Service
2845 Chain Bridge Road,Vienna, VA 22180
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My deepest condolences on your loss. I will always remember Tina seating in your beautiful backyard and telling me stories about you and girls. She was so proud of your accomplishments and her grandkids. May the light always shine where she is right now. She will be very missed.
I wish I was there in VA to hug you, my friend.
Sincerely,
Krustchinsky Lena and the family