Obituary of Rose Stephenson

Rose (Isganderian) Stephenson, of Woburn, formerly of Stoneham, Wakefield, and Chelsea, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington on Friday, Jan. 16. Rose was born to Armenian immigrants, the late Pailatzou and Isgander Isganderian. She grew up in Chelsea and was a 1941 graduate of Chelsea High School. Very proud of her Armenian heritage and culture, Rose was a talented cook making lamejun and other Armenian dishes. She worked as a Probate Clerk at the Hale & Dorr (WilmerHale) Law Firm from 1959 to 1989, commuting daily to Boston, and made her home in Wakefield (1960-1980) Stoneham (1980-2002) and, for the past 12 years, in Woburn. A keen observer of national and world affairs, Rose was an active listener to talk radio. She loved going out to eat, traveling, and testing her luck at Mohegan Sun. She was beloved wife of the late Arthur H. Stephenson, Jr. Loving mother of Arthur H. Stephenson, III of Woburn. Sister of the late Charles and Jacob Isganderian. Funeral services will be held at Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge on Monday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. There will be a visitation at the Church from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Woodbrook Cemetery in Woburn. Donations in Rose’s name may be made to the AGBU Urgent Appeal for Iraqi Armenian Families (Armenian General Benevolent Union, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022) (www.agbu.org) or to the Legacy of Love programs of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, (www.tunnel2towers.org). The Urgent Appeal reflects Rose’s concern for the Armenian diaspora and the Legacy programs help children that have lost a parent to have the kind of parental upbringing that Rose dedicated her life to.