Jun 19 2024 17 mins
"My grandmother, Kenarik Adamian, was born in Tehran, Iran, likely in 1929, despite a birth certificate stating 1925. She was one of five children and grew up in an Armenian family, passionate about design and sewing. Taught by a French-Armenian family friend, she pursued her interests despite her education being interrupted in her teens.
At around 18 or 19, my grandmother met Vahan Zolfaghari, a wealthy man from a gold and jewelry business background. They married in a grand Armenian church ceremony. Kenarik had five children, though one son died in infancy. The surviving children were Verjik, Vahram, Hilda, and Frida. She was a dedicated stay-at-home mother who designed clothes for her children and relatives.
Tehran was westernized during Kenarik's life, and Armenians were well-regarded. Her children were educated in England, frequently traveling for vacations and school. My grandmother supported my mother Hilda's marriage to my father, an American named Michael, amidst the Iranian Revolution in 1979. She attended the wedding in England, though her husband couldn't due to health and travel fears.
Post-revolution, Kenarik returned to Iran, focusing on her ailing husband and first grandchild. The revolution isolated her from her children abroad, and she fell ill with shingles. Her husband passed away during this period, leaving her to cope alone with only Verjik nearby.
In 1986, my grandmother immigrated to America after her husband's death, settling with her children in Maryland. Despite language barriers, she adjusted quickly, bringing Persian carpets, gold, and souvenirs. She lived with her children and found renewed purpose in caring for me when I was born in 1992. Kenarik's Armenian and Persian cooking was beloved, and she shared Armenian traditions and stories, becoming a central figure in my life.
I cherish her legacy of love, strength, and resilience, feeling her presence in spirit even after her passing." -Ashley M. David
You can find Ashley, @ashdave17, on Instagram.
Special thanks to sound designer and musician Aris Buechele for creating the beautiful music for Season 2. You can find Aris @noiseship on Instagram.
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Created by: Anoush Bargamian @sweetangst_art @themedzmamas
Story by: Ashley M. David
Photography: Ashley M. David's library
Music by: Aris Buechele @noiseship
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