The Tavookjian family, Tokat, May 14, 1911. This photograph, originally in black and white, was digitally colorized using MyHeritage.com

Tavookjian and Lazian collection – Fresno, CA

Author: Zaroohi Der Mugrdechian, 12/01/2025 (Last modified: 12/01/2025).

This is the story of two families from Tokat (Yevtogia) who survived to share their experiences. The Tavookjian/Tavoukdjian family survivors were Garabed Tavookjian and his sister Mariam. The second family was that of Yeranouhi/Yeranoohi Lazian (née Karnagelian) and her daughter Siranoush. The paths of these two families intersected after the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Siranoush used the variant "Seranouch" for the spelling of her first name. For the sake of authenticity, we will use this variant throughout the article.

Garabed Tavookjian (August 15, 1890 – November 2, 1952)

Garabed, the son of Hagop and Yeranoohi Tavookjian (née Mrmroukian), born in Tokat, had four siblings: Mariam, Avedis, Levon, and Sarkis. After 1908, with the reinstatement of the Ottoman Constitution, Ottoman Armenians were also recruited into the Ottoman army. During this period, the unmarried youngest son, Garabed, volunteered to serve in place of his brother Avedis in the Ottoman/Turkish army. However, in 1910, Garabed and a group of friends deserted the army and fled to Egypt, where they found work with an Armenian cigarette maker for two years.

During their time in Egypt, they received disturbing news about the worsening conditions for Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Garabed wrote to his mother, urging her to leave Tokat. She refused, stating that she desired only a modest place and could not bear to leave. When the Genocide began in 1915, Yeranoohi went to fetch water and never returned. Avedis, his wife, and Levon were killed, while Sarkis's fate remains unknown. Mariam, left alone after her mother's disappearance, stayed with friends.

In 1912, Garabed and his friends left Egypt and traveled to America, initially settling on the East Coast in Massachusetts before eventually moving to Fresno, California. This account was shared with Seranouch Tavookjian by her sister-in-law, Mariam Tavookjian Boghosian.

After the Genocide, Garabed decided that he would write to Tokat native Armenians (Tokattsis) in Beirut for them to suggest a bride for himself. They sent some photos of potential brides to him. He chose Seranouch Lazian’s photo. Her mother Yeranoohi (see Yeranoohi’s story in the following section) approved. He sent $300 to Seranouch to buy an engagement present and a cross and gold gloves were bought. Seranouch left Beirut for America via Vera Cruz, Mexico.

Garabed married Seranouch Lazian on November 27, 1924, in Vera Cruz and brought her to Fresno as his bride. He had purchased a small home that became her domain. Garabed worked as a building maintenance worker for Gottschalks Department Store in Fresno for over 30 years. Additionally, he bought and renovated homes to rent out.

The couple had four daughters—Eleanor, Norma, Barbara, and Mary—and one son, Garabed Jr. During World War I, Garabed Sr. served in the Ambulance Corps at Kearney Field in Fresno, California, and was a member of the American Legion. He and his family traveled extensively throughout the United States. Garabed Sr. passed away at the age of 62 from a heart attack on November 2, 1952, and was buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno.

Garabed Tavookjian in U.S. Army uniform, 1918-1919, Camp Kearney, Fresno, California.

Yeranoohi Lazian Ekizian (née Karnagelian, May 15, 1882-May 4, 1979)

Tokat (Yevtogia) is a city situated on the left bank of the Iris River (Yeşilırmak) within a narrow, several-mile-long valley, dominated by an ancient citadel that overlooks the town. It is located just south of the Pontic Mountains, approximately 60 miles from the Black Sea. The fertile lands around Tokat yield wheat, barley, corn, alfalfa, various fruits, nuts, and tobacco. The region is well-watered by rivers and streams and is surrounded by heavily forested mountains.

Yeranoohi Karnagelian (later Lazian) was born in Bizeri/Bizare (present-day Akbelen), a village located about 30 miles north-east of Tokat. Her parents, Hagop and Marta Karnagelian, were farmers. The village had no schools, and even where schools existed, girls were not permitted to study. Hagop and Marta had six children—two boys and four girls—but by the time of the genocide (1915), only Yeranoohi (born on May 15, 1882) had survived. Marta passed away when Yeranoohi was just six years old.

In 1895-96, when Yeranoohi was 12 years old, the Hamidian massacre took place. The villagers fled to the mountains, where they remained for three weeks. Upon their return, they found their homes and farms looted and had to rebuild from scratch. At the age of 17, Yeranoohi became engaged to Ohan Lazian from Tokat, a shoemaker with three brothers: Ohannes, Krikor, and Levon. Yeranoohi and Ohan had six children, but only two survived infancy: a son, Moushegh, and a daughter, Seranouch, who was born on May 15, 1906. Seranouch was able to attend kindergarten.

Yeranoohi Lazian’s (née Karnagelian) Lebanese passport.

On June 3, 1915, Turkish soldiers surrounded the city and marched into the Armenian quarters, calling for all men aged 20 to 45 to come out. They began breaking down the doors of homes in their search. The soldiers eventually reached the home of Yeranoohi and Ohan. In an attempt to protect his family, Ohan stepped out through the front door, only to be seized and beaten by two soldiers. He, along with the other men they found in the village, were taken away and never returned.

The women later heard that the men had been tied together, marched to deep ravines, and then brutally clubbed, stabbed, and thrown down into the depths. A few survivors managed to escape this horrific massacre and returned to recount the events. Ohan, along with his two brothers and Yeranoohi’s brothers, was killed during this attack.

When the order came for them to leave the city, only Yeranoohi, her mother-in-law, her daughter Seranouch, and her infant son Moushegh remained. Along the way, Yeranoohi’s mother-in-law, who suffered from asthma, could no longer keep up. The soldiers told them that she would have to stay behind and warned that if they stayed with her, they would all be killed. With heavy hearts, Yeranoohi, Seranouch, and Moushegh continued on, their feet bleeding and their stomachs aching with hunger.

Yeranoohi Lazian’s (née Karnagelian) U.S. Immigrant ID card.

After three months and 300 miles of relentless walking south, their caravan of deportees finally reached Souroudj, a town near Ourfa. Local Muslim women came to inspect the approximately 100 remaining survivors, selecting young girls to take home as servants. One woman approached Yeranoohi, who, in her weakened and desperate state, believed that Seranouch might have a better chance at survival if she went with her. The woman bathed and cleaned Seranouch, gave her a mat to sleep on, and provided her with yogurt and bread. When Yeranoohi later returned to claim her daughter, they refused to let Seranouch go.

Yeranoohi recounted that Moushegh had become sick and passed away. Unable to give him a proper burial, she and some other women dug a shallow trench with their hands, laid his body inside, and covered him with sand and rocks. The next morning, they discovered that dogs had unearthed his body, leaving it bitten and torn. Yeranoohi was heartbroken. She longed to take Seranouch with her as she was being moved to another town, Biredjik, but the women would not relent.

Yeranoohi left Souroudj and spent a year barely surviving. With the help of a Turkish mukhtar (village leader), she returned to Souroudj, hoping to find Seranouch. However, the family that had taken in her daughter had moved, leaving Yeranoohi uncertain where to search. Several women noticed her crying and asked what was wrong. When she explained, they told her they knew where the family had relocated. Yeranoohi went to their home but was turned away. On her second attempt, with the assistance of a Turkish woman named Fatma Hanum, she managed to see Seranouch.

Eventually, the family fostering Seranouch grew fond of Yeranoohi and invited her to become their servant. For six months, this arrangement persisted until it became necessary to appear before a magistrate – very likely after the end of World War I - to resolve custody. When asked who Yeranoohi was, Seranouch replied, “She is my mother.” With that declaration, they were reunited.

Yeranoohi and Seranouch took a train to Aleppo, where they stayed for about five months, barely managing to survive. After a year of scraping by, they moved to Beirut. Yeranoohi was determined for Seranouch to attend school. Hearing that an orphanage could provide an education, Yeranoohi sent Seranouch there, but the conditions proved unpleasant, prompting her to withdraw her daughter.

They continued to survive in Beirut as best as they could. When news circulated that Garabed Tavookjian was seeking a Tokat-born bride, Yeranoohi sent Seranouch’s photo. Garabed chose her, and in 1924, Seranouch left Beirut. Though both mother and daughter felt heartbroken by their parting, they held hope that they would see each other again.

In 1933, Yeranoohi embarked on a journey across the Atlantic to join her daughter and family in Fresno, California. She lived with them until 1945, when she married Hadji Ekizian of Dinuba, California. Yeranoohi then resided on a ranch with Ekizian’s sons. After Hadji's death and as her health declined, she could no longer care for herself and moved to the California Armenian Home. Yeranoohi passed away on May 4, 1979, and was laid to rest at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno.

Seranouch Tavookjian (née Lazian, May 15, 1906 -September 26, 1998)

In October 1924, Seranouch left her mother behind in Beirut and embarked on a journey by boat to Marseilles, then Paris, and eventually Havana, Cuba. From there, she boarded another ship bound for Vera Cruz, Mexico, where she met Garabed Tavookjian for the first time. The couple married the very next day, on November 27, 1924. When they reached Juarez to cross into the United States, they discovered that, despite Garabed's American citizenship, Seranouch would need to remain in Mexico for two years to meet immigration quota requirements. They stayed in Juarez for six months as Garabed sought ways to expedite Seranouch's immigration to Fresno. Eventually, they learned that moving to Cuba could hasten the process. In March 1925, the couple traveled to Cuba, where Seranouch’s immigration status was approved. They then journeyed to New Orleans before taking a train to Fresno. Seranouch arrived in Fresno on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925.

Siranoush was an excellent homemaker, cook, and baker, and mother to five children. She was a devoted member of St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church (Fresno) and became skilled at preparing the blessed bread (mahs, Antidoron), which is given to attendees after the mass (badarak) as they leave the church. She served on various committees of the church's Ladies Society for many years and was honored as 'Grandmother of the Year' by the society. She enjoyed participating in the activities of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Fresno Chapter. Siranoush was talented in knitting and crocheting. She took pleasure in gardening and keeping her yard beautiful. Every major holiday, her family would gather to enjoy delicious meals and fun activities. She always sat about seven rows back from the altar on the left side of the church and was there every Sunday. In her later years, she moved to the California Armenian Home. She was deeply saddened by the death of her son in 1997. She remained at the Home until her passing on September 26, 1998. 

She is buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, California.

Seranouch was elated when her daughter Norma gave birth to her first grandchild, Zaroohi. Soon after, her family blossomed with the addition of 11 grandsons, followed by two granddaughters. Visits to “Medz Maireeg” (grandmother) Seranouch’s home were always a source of delight, filled with delicious food and engaging activities in her vibrant backyard. The yard was a haven of flowers and fruit trees, always offering something natural to pick and savor.

As the grandchildren grew older, they noticed a charming tradition she had with the youngest of them. Seranouch would chant a whimsical nursery rhyme while counting their toes:

Ayn-ooz, Booy-nooz
Da-va-dang, Doosh-doog
Ee-no-gheeg, Mee-no-gheeg
Jan-nig, Jan-fas
Fus-tukh, Fus!

The origins of this playful rhyme remain a mystery, but it became an enduring memory for all her grandchildren. Seranouch’s quiet demeanor and the deep love she showered on each of her grandchildren left an indelible mark on their hearts, ensuring her legacy of warmth and care will always be cherished.

Mariam Boghosian (née Tavookjian, January 8, 1904-December 5, 1968)

Mariam was Garabed Tavookjian’s sister and the daughter of Hagop and Yeranoohi Tavookjian (née Mrmroukian). Little is known about Mariam and Garabed’s early life in Tokat. She and her sister-in-law, Isgouhi, survived the genocide and found refuge in an orphanage in Beirut. Mariam was asked if she had any relatives in the United States, and she mentioned her brother, Garabed, who was in California. A letter was sent to an Armenian newspaper in California, either Mushag or Asbarez. Soon, a reply came from Garabed, known as 'Charlie,' requesting a photograph of his sister. When he received it, he immediately recognized her and made arrangements for her to come to the United States. Isgouhi could not accompany her, as she had not learned to read or write. Mariam arrived in the United States and married Asadour Boghosian (August 15, 1887 – September 24, 1966) on October 29, 1922. They settled on a ranch in Tulare, California, and had four children: Diana, Jack, Casey, and Paul.

Sources

  •  Oral history: Yeranoohi Lazian Ekizin (née Karnagelian) interviewed by Bob Der
  • Mugrdechian, December 25, 1976.
  •  Oral history: Yeranoohi Lazian Ekizin (née Karnagelian) interviewed by Norma Der
  • Mugrdechian, August 20, 1977.
  • Oral history: Seranouch Tavookjian (née Lazian) interviewed by Bob Der Mugrdechian,
  • June 12, 1984
  • Mariam Boghosian’s (née Tavookjian) testimonies.
  •  Bob Der Mugrdechian, Siranoosh, My Child , 1984 (www.Tavookjian.com)
  • Barlow Der Mugrdechian, A Farewell to the Armenians of Evdokia/Tokat, 2006
  • Arshag Alboyadjian, Patmutiun Yevtokioy Hayots (History of the Armenians in Tokat),
  • Nor Asdgh Press, Cairo, 1952

Oral testimonies | Yeranoohi Lazian (née Karnagelian) | December 25, 1976 | 15 min

Yeranoohi Lazian (née Karnagelian) born in Bizeri/Bizare (present-day Akbelen, near Tokat), recounts her family history, the harrowing ordeal she and her family endured during the Armenian Genocide, her deportation and survival in Souroudj.

Interviewer: Bob Der Mugrdechian (the husband of Norma, Seranouch's daughter).

Oral testimonies | Yeranoohi Lazian (née Karnagelian) | August 20, 1977 | 58 min

Yeranoohi Lazian (née Karnagelian), born in Bizeri/Bizare (present-day Akbelen, near Tokat), recounts her family history, her home in her native village, her life there, the harrowing ordeal she and her family endured during the Armenian Genocide, her deportation and survival, and the post-genocide years spent in Aleppo and later in Beirut, her departure in 1933 to the United States.

Interviewer: Norma Der Mugrdechian (Seranouch's daughter). During the same interview, Seranouch is also present, and she intervenes regularly.

Oral testimonies | Seranouch Tavookjian (née Lazian) | June 12, 1984 | 90 min

Seranouch Tavookjian (née Lazian), born in Bizeri/Bizare (present-day Akbelen), recounts her family history, the harrowing ordeal she and her family endured during the Armenian Genocide, the post-genocide years spent in Aleppo and later Beirut, her arranged marriage to an Armenian from the United States, and her journey in 1924 from Beirut to Cuba and eventually to the United States.

Interviewer: Norma Der Mugrdechian (Seranouch's daughter).