1932
Mary
2025
Mary Julia Eknaian
July 3, 1932 — September 14, 2025
Smithfield
Mary Julia (Bedigian) Eknaian, 93, of Briarcliffe Manor. Johnston, RI; formerly of South Kingstown, RI and Attleboro MA, died peacefully Sunday, September 14, 2025.
Her beloved husband, Henry Eknaian, died in 2006, to whom she was married on April 22, 1951.
Born in Newton, Massachusetts on July 3, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Anteras Bedigian and Helen (Atamian) Bedigian. Mary and her family moved to Whitinsville, Massachusetts when she was an infant and settled there. She graduated from Northbridge High School in 1950.
She leaves three sons, Henry Eknaian Jr. (Linda) of Narragansett, RI, Steven Eknaian (Norma) of Smithfield, RI and George Eknaian (Joyce) of Bolton, CT, along with 6 grandchildren: Kevin, Jeffrey, Karen, Timothy, Amanda and Sarah; seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Henry, she was predeceased by her brothers George “Red” Bedigian, Oscar Bedigian, and Evans “Zaggy” Bedigian, as well as her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Aslanian.
Henry and Mary moved to South Kingstown in 2005 from Attleboro, MA where they had resided since 1968. In August 2019, she moved to Briarcliffe Manor in Johnston, RI.
She was a food service worker for Attleboro High School for several years, and from that position, advanced to secretary of Studley Elementary School and ultimately, the assistant to the Superintendent of Schools for the city of Attleboro before retiring in 1993.
While living in Attleboro, she was an active member of the Second Congregational Church on Park Street with her late husband.
Mary loved to cook and knit, leaving behind a large collection of hand knit blankets and several family recipes, including many Armenian dishes and in particular holiday baking of pies and cookies. She also enjoyed dancing, being “Ginger Rogers” to Henry’s “Fred Astaire”. They were so in synch on the dance floor. She had a love of dogs, owning one for most of her adult life.
The family would like to thank the staff at Briarcliffe Manor – Cottages and Gardens for their excellent care of Mary during these past few years. It is very much appreciated. At Briarcliffe, she was known as “Mama” to just about everyone.
Funeral services will be held in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home,161 Commonwealth Avenue, North Attleboro, MA. There will be a time of remembrance with family members and friends on Monday, September 22 at 10:00am followed by the funeral service at the funeral home at 11:00am.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Franklin, Massachusetts after the service.
Memorial donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association (http://donorservices.alz.org) or the ASPCA (http:.//secure.aspca.org).
For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com. 508-695-0200.
Her beloved husband, Henry Eknaian, died in 2006, to whom she was married on April 22, 1951.
Born in Newton, Massachusetts on July 3, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Anteras Bedigian and Helen (Atamian) Bedigian. Mary and her family moved to Whitinsville, Massachusetts when she was an infant and settled there. She graduated from Northbridge High School in 1950.
She leaves three sons, Henry Eknaian Jr. (Linda) of Narragansett, RI, Steven Eknaian (Norma) of Smithfield, RI and George Eknaian (Joyce) of Bolton, CT, along with 6 grandchildren: Kevin, Jeffrey, Karen, Timothy, Amanda and Sarah; seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Henry, she was predeceased by her brothers George “Red” Bedigian, Oscar Bedigian, and Evans “Zaggy” Bedigian, as well as her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Aslanian.
Henry and Mary moved to South Kingstown in 2005 from Attleboro, MA where they had resided since 1968. In August 2019, she moved to Briarcliffe Manor in Johnston, RI.
She was a food service worker for Attleboro High School for several years, and from that position, advanced to secretary of Studley Elementary School and ultimately, the assistant to the Superintendent of Schools for the city of Attleboro before retiring in 1993.
While living in Attleboro, she was an active member of the Second Congregational Church on Park Street with her late husband.
Mary loved to cook and knit, leaving behind a large collection of hand knit blankets and several family recipes, including many Armenian dishes and in particular holiday baking of pies and cookies. She also enjoyed dancing, being “Ginger Rogers” to Henry’s “Fred Astaire”. They were so in synch on the dance floor. She had a love of dogs, owning one for most of her adult life.
The family would like to thank the staff at Briarcliffe Manor – Cottages and Gardens for their excellent care of Mary during these past few years. It is very much appreciated. At Briarcliffe, she was known as “Mama” to just about everyone.
Funeral services will be held in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home,161 Commonwealth Avenue, North Attleboro, MA. There will be a time of remembrance with family members and friends on Monday, September 22 at 10:00am followed by the funeral service at the funeral home at 11:00am.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Franklin, Massachusetts after the service.
Memorial donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association (http://donorservices.alz.org) or the ASPCA (http:.//secure.aspca.org).
For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com. 508-695-0200.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Julia Eknaian, please visit our flower store.
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