WEST HILLS, CA - Nora Mary Nalbandian, formerly of Old Tappan, New Jersey, passed away on November 26, 2000. She was born on February 19, 1916, to Krikor and Marguerite Djanian in Tabriz, Iran. In 1936, she married Arthur W. Nalbandian and, in 1940, they emigrated to the United States with their infant son, Martin.

Mrs. Nalbandian was a member of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, and a member of the church's Ladies Guild. She was also a 25-year member of the Bergen County Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society. Together with her husband, Mrs. Nalbandian was instrumental in the founding of the Armenian School of New Jersey (now the Hovnanian Armenian School) in New Milford, New Jersey in 1975. She moved to California with her husband in 1978 and resided there until her passing. In 1990, she and her husband endowed the Arthur and Nora Nalbandian Library at the Ferrahian Armenian School in Encino, CA.

Mrs. Nalbandian is survived by her husband, her five children, Martin A. Nalbandian, Henry A. Nalbandian, and Ustinjya M. Shahdanian of Old Tappan, New Jersey, Walter A. Nalbandian of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Nora Mary Simonian of Chatsworth, CA; twelve grandchildren, Arthur M. Nalbandian, Melissa M. Farling, Matthew M. Nalbandian, Gregory H. Nalbandian, John L. Shahdanian II, Christopher W. Nalbandian, Diana M. Cascone, Elizabeth M. Nalbandian, Joseph S. Simonian, Adam W. Nalbandian, Mark H. Shahdanian, and Nairi M. Simonian; and five great-grandchildren: Siranoush Nalbandian, Martin Nalbandian, Noelle Nalbandian, Anig Nalbandian and Isabel Nalbandian.

Fortieth-day requiem services will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2001, at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield, NJ and at St. Mary's Armenian Church, Glendale, CA.

The family would appreciate that contributions in her memory be made either to the Nora Nalbandian Scholarship Fund at the Hovnanian Armenian School, 817 River Rd., New Milford, NJ 07646 or to the Arthur and Nora Nalbandian Library Fund at the Ferrahian Armenian School, 5300 White Oak Avenue, Encino, California 91316.