On Friday, Dec 15, 2023, My mother, Jacquelyn Sasser Deranian passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side. She was 92. Everybody called her “Jacky”. To me, she was “Mom” or I should really say “Super Mom”. She encouraged her children to do anything we set our minds to. Had she been born today, she would be running a fortune 500 company. My dad (deceased Oct 2014) taught me many things, and for that I will always deeply love him. However, there were several life skills that only my mother was able to teach.

You see, she was a mechanical engineer and creative thinker at heart. Once she figured out that I liked to build things, she bought me a jig saw, and then a table saw at the ripe old age of 13! I could be fingerless at this point. But I’m not. (a few close calls, I will admit, but I still have all ten) When it came to technology, she was ahead of her time. She was the only 90 year old grandmother on our street with the latest iphone, apple watch and mac book air which she used effectively until her last few months.

She was born in Kankakee, IL in 1931, during a time of economic uncertainty. She was the daughter of a traveling photographer. In those days, cameras were rare, and difficult to use. Grandpa would arrive in a town and would take family portraits, company events and dance hall gatherings. Some of his pictures are in the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa OK.

They traveled all over the South and Mid-West. She loved to travel her whole life and was an avid photographer. She had so many great stories to tell. She once told me as a young girl, there was a massive flood in New Orleans. Her father put her on the last train out of town. She vividly remembers that all the fields were flooded and the cows were swimming for their lives. Being so young this clearly made an impression.

As the war broke out, my grandfather worked for Douglass aircraft as a photographer. There was a polio epidemic and the hotels would not allow my mother to stay. Fortunately, her grandparents had a farm and she was sent to Texas to wait out the epidemic. While there, she went to a One-Room Schoolhouse on horseback. Her experiences of that time built an inner strength and determination that she carried throughout her life.

As a teenager, she worked for my grandfather. She had a keen eye. It was a very wise decision on my grandpa’s part to bring her on board. Their business had switched to taking photos of events at college fraternities and sororities. Taxi’s were quite expensive so grandpa bought her her first car, a 1941 Ford. Little did she know, this was perfect training for her future life as the wife of a career Air Force officer.

She married George Gregory Deranian on February 19th 1954. Together they had 3 wonderful children, 5 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild (so far). Their marriage lasted 6 decades with a few tumultuous times especially during the Vietnam war and the civil rights movement. They had a deep love and respect for one another.

Mom thrived in organizing and hosting social events. It was not uncommon for her to volunteer to make costumes for her children’s plays or become the girl scout leader or church librarian. She never met a person she didn’t like. My sisters and wife would attest to this as it always took longer to leave a restaurant or church or grocery store. Mom wanted to speak with everyone and show them a little kindness and love, even if it was only for a few moments. Mom saw the beauty in everything. Something as simple as a car ride made her day. She loved halloween decorations and christmas lights. She enjoyed watching videos of her grandchildren, from seeing them win a swim meet or lacrosse game, or cheer as they learned to walk or celebrate a birthday.

She was the mom everyone wishes they had.

Rest in peace Mom.

We will love and miss you forever.

My mom had kept this card in her files…I just wanted share

Obituary

legacy.com

DERANIAN, Jacquelyn “Jacky” (Sasser) Age 92, of Collierville, TN passed away on December 15, 2023, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family. Jacky was born in Kankakee, IL, and grew up across the midwest and midsouth, as the daughter of Georgia Miller Sasser and freelance photographer R. Jack Sasser. Early training from her Dad enabled Jacky at age 17 to win a 1948 National Scholastic Award in Photography. Jacky graduated with Will Rogers High School’s class of ‘49, Tulsa, OK and in 1951 received her associate’s degree from the University of Tulsa. Married sixty years to Air Force colonel George Deranian, Jacky lived throughout the U.S., moving every few years concurrent with each tour of duty, while raising three children, before settling in Bedford, MA, where she happily lived for forty-two years. Jacky met each new community with arms open wide, embodying the ethos that our lives are to be lived with a commitment to each other, our families, our neighbors and fellow human beings. Jacky could be counted on to roll up her sleeves at church activities, museum tours, or libraries, generously giving her time, from start to finish. Jacky’s photography and visual arts talents continue to serve as reflections of her love for family and friends. In particular, her support of the Armenian photographic archives, PROJECT SAVE, in Watertown, MA, was a priority. Jacky’s friendships shaped every single day of her life. Her children will forever admire the fearless example she set to always follow the gracious path.

Jacky was predeceased by her husband, George G. Deranian. She is survived by daughter, Helen A. Deranian; daughter, Candace D. Shoemaker (David Shoemaker); son, John R. Deranian (Anne Clinton); five grandchildren, Rosie, Peter, Heather, Ben, and Lilly; great-granddaughter, Annabel; and beloved nieces and nephews. Services will be held on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD in Spring 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jacquelyn S. Deranian, www.projectsave.org PROJECT SAVE Photograph Archive, 600 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

Published by Boston Globe from Dec. 23 to Dec. 24, 2023.