A Tribute to an Armenian-American Nurse and Mother
The Juggler-Swatter
The Armenian Weekly publishes a personal essay honoring the author's mother, an Armenian-American nurse who balanced professional and domestic responsibilities across generations. Born to immigrants from Kharpet, Armenia, she trained as a registered nurse around 1950 and eventually secured a position as a corporate nurse, earning respect for her professionalism and discretion with employee health information. At home, she maintained Armenian culinary traditions while embracing American cuisine, preparing dishes ranging from dolma and lamb tongues to casseroles and lime Jell-O pie. The essay reflects on her resourcefulness during the Depression, her family's Armenian heritage, and her role as the eldest of three daughters. The piece captures the dual cultural identity common to many Armenian-American families of that era.
