Yeretzgin Diramayr Anahid Kalayjian

Yeretzgin Anahid Kalayjian, wife of the late Rev. Fr. Vertanes Archpriest Kalayjian, pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church, Washington, DC,, passed away on January 23, 2026 in Gaithersburg, MD at the age of 92.

Daughter of Dikran and Victoria Bozoyan, Yeretzgin Anahid was born in Aleppo, Syria on February 2, 1933. She graduated class valedictorian from the American High School for Girls and Haigazian College in Beirut, Lebanon, where she started her career in nursing. She continued her education in the United States of America first at Christ Hospital Nursing School in Jersey City, NJ, and then graduating with a BA and MA in Nursing Education from Columbia University Teachers College in 1963. She worked as a nursing supervisor and instructor at Christ Hospital.

Her true vocation was in service to the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. At Holy Cross Armenian Church in Union City, NJ, she was a Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, ACYOA (Armenian Church Youth Organization of America) member, Armenian School Superintendent and community organizer. Through her many church activities she met her husband, Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, the pastor of Holy Cross. Fr. Vertanes was given special permission to be released from his vows of celibacy to marry Anahid in 1969. From then on, Anahid Bozoyan became Yeretzgin (Elder-wife) Anahid Kalayjian.

From Holy Cross, they moved to St. Mary Armenian Church in Elberon, NJ, in 1972, and then to St. Mary Armenian Church in Washington, D.C. in 1977.

Yeretzgin Anahid continued her devoted service at St. Mary through, among other activities, the Choir, the Women’s Guild (as member, chairlady, delegate, and Central Council member), by founding the 3M Club for the educational, cultural, and social enjoyment of the parish, co-founding the Shnorhali School of St. Mary for Christian and Armenian education, and as Coordinator and Youth Advisor of the ACYOA Jrs. and Srs. She created the “Hye Time in Washington” program, which brought together neighboring Armenian communities for social activities and fellowship.

She was the first Yeretzgin to be elected Diocesan Delegate. She was awarded the “Ara & Maral Statue” for 25 years of service to the parish Armenian School. She participated in humanitarian and religious trips to Armenia through the HAVAD program, co-founded by Fr. Vertanes as a Christian Missionary program of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. Through HAVAD, she and Fr. Vertanes established Christian Education Camps and supported the Dilijan Orphanage and Siranoush Camp in Yeghegnadzor, which have provided assistance to hundreds of Armenian youth. She was a member of the Armenian Health Association of Washington, DC, a member of the Armenian-American Cultural Association, and a board member of the Women’s Wellness Center in Armenia.

She sang in the Ani-Knar Choral Group and helped plan and execute events at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to raise funds to help both the embassy and the Armenian homeland.

For over 25 years, Yeretzgin Anahid nurtured and cared for countless youth at the AGBU Camp Nubar as Nurse, Counselor, and Religious and Armenian Culture Program Director.

She received the Nerses Shnorhali Award from Catholicos Karekin II for her exceptional devotion and service to the Armenian Church in America and Armenia. She has been recognized by the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the United Nations for her dedicated service during the 1988 Earthquake in Armenia. Along with Fr. Vertanes, she was recognized by the Alexandria Virginia City Council through a proclamation praising their work and thanking them for many years of supporting the annual Alexandria Armenian Festival.

In 2016, Yeretzgin Anahid and Fr. Vertanes were recognized by the Armenian Assembly of America for their dedicated leadership, commitment and contributions to the Armenian and Armenian-American communities. She was a long-time board member of the Jerair Nishanian foundation, which helps underprivileged and talented young Armenian students in Armenia to receive higher education, especially in engineering and architecture.

Yeretzgin Anahid was a devoted and loving spouse to Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian (of blessed memory) and partnered with him in nearly all aspects of his ministry. She was a devoted sister to all her late siblings: brother Yervant Bozoyan and sisters Zvart Samuelian, Angel Madalian, and Arshalooys Kevorkian. She was mother of Dn. Zaven Kalayjian, PhD (spouse Edita), Berj Kalayjian, and Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (spouse Yeretzgin Karen), and proud grandmother to six wonderful grandchildren: Jirair, Hrak, Pargev, Zorair, Aram and Ms. Arev Kalayjian.

As a Christian, her faith guided her in everything she did. She was widely and deeply respected throughout the Armenian community, was a role model to many, a true example of a servant-leader, and will be profoundly missed.

Funeral Arrangements for Washington, DC & New Jersey 

Dahn Gark (Wake) Service – Washington, DC

Thursday,  February 12,  2026

5:00-6:30 pm – Visitation

6:30 pm – Service

St. Mary Armenian Church

4125Fessenden St.

Washington,DC 20016

Memorial reception to follow in the Church Hall

Funeral Church Service – New Jersey

Saturday,  February 14,  2026

9:00 am-9:45 am – Visitation

10:00 am – Funeral Service

St. Leon Armenian Church

12-61Saddle River Rd.

FairLawn, NJ 07410

Interment Following Church Service

George Washington Memorial Park

234Paramus Rd.

Paramus,NJ 07652

Hokejash (Memorial Meal) Following Interment

Assyrian Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary

644Paramus Rd.

Paramus,NJ 07652

In Lieu of Flowers Donations in Memory of Yn. Anahid may be made to the following Armenian Church parishes:

St Mesrob Armenian Church, Racine, WI

https://www.stmesrobchurch.org/donations

Or mail to: 4605Erie St. Racine, WI 53402

St. Mary Armenian Church, Washington, DC

https://donorbox.org/stmaryschurch-2

Or mail to: 4125Fessenden St. NW Washington, DC 20016

Holy Cross Armenian Church, Union City, NJ

Mail to: 318 27th St, Union City, NJ 07087