Sahag G. Oxian
Apr. 02, 1937 - Apr. 05, 2021

SOUTH BEND - Sahag Garabed Oxian, 84, of South Bend passed away at 10:55 p.m. Monday, April 5th in Memorial Hospital following an illness. Sahag was born April 2, 1937 in South Bend to the late Kayne (Garabedian) and Hachig S. Oxian and was a lifetime area resident. He was also preceded in death by his brother, John H. Oxian, on March 31st. He is survived by his cousins, Makrouhi Oxian and Gheorge Pomakian both of South Bend; his sister-in-law, Kathy Oxian; and many cousins and their families from Michigan and Rhode Island.

Sahag was a lifetime area resident of South bend. H graduated from Central High School and continued his education at the University of Notre Dame where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Foreign Language. He also went on to earn his Master's degree in Education from Indiana University.

Sahag was part of the Oxian Brothers Rug and Carpet Cleaners family and had also been a teacher in the Brandywine and Gary Public School systems where he taught English and French. He was fluent in Armenian and Spanish as well. He loved people and enjoyed exchanges with community members in their native language. It gave him great pleasure to promote cross-cultural appreciation through language.

Music was another passion of Sahag's. His love for the cello was cultivated in his youth and continued well into his adult years. He played in the South Bend Symphony and was part of a folk music group called Spatterdash, where he played ethnic music from around the world. Sahag had an extensive collection of International music that he would often play at home for his enjoyment and that of his cousin Makrouhi who was like a sister to him. Listening to this music inspired him to learn folk dance as well. He joined a local dance group that would gather weekly at a neighborhood church where the members could learn various dances from one another. He developed quite a repertoire that provided a source of joy in his life.

Family was extremely important to Sahag and he often reminisced longingly about the times spent with family whether in Detroit, South Bend, or at Corey Lake, MI. He also loved animals, particularly his cats, as well as the environment. He was a supporter of many organizations whose mission it was to protect God's creatures and preserve this planet's natural resources.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 16th in the Palmer Funeral Home -Welsheimer Chapel, 521 N. William St. with Fr. Tavit Boyadjian of St. Joachim and Anne Armenian Apostolic Church, Palos Heights, IL, officiating. Committal services and burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, South Bend. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. The family asks that all who attend kindly wear masks.

Memorial contributions in Sahag's name may be made to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, 2506 Grape Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545, https://www.humanesocietystjc.org or Armenia Tree Project, 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3900, Woburn, MA 01801, https://www.armeniatree.org. Family and friends may leave email condolences at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
 

04/11/2021 JFC