Clara Manasserians Benyamin Obituary (1926 - 2014)

Clara Manasserians Benyamin, 88, of Normal, died at 9:23 pm, Friday, June 6, 2014 at her home.Her funeral will be at 11:00 am, Wednesday, (6-11-14) at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal with Monsignor Eric Powell officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, today (Tuesday 6-10-14) at Carmody -Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home in Bloomington.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Assyrian Aid Society 350 Berkeley Park Blvd, Kensington, CA 94707; or Heritage Health 509 N. Adelaide St, Normal, IL 61761.Clara was born on March 21, 1926 in Urmieh, Iran, the daughter of Alexander and Nana Odisho Manasserians. After graduating high school she attended college and got her bachelor degree in English literature. This happened at a time when women were not expected to pursue higher education. She started her carrier in teaching and taught at the same high school until she retired after 27 years. She spent the final 3 decades of her life along with the rest of her family in America and was a proud US citizen. She married Issa Benyamin on August 31, 1957 in Tehran, Iran. He preceded her in death on January 13, 2014.Survivors include a son, Dr. Ramsin (Jizet) Benyamin of Bloomington; a daughter, Ramica (Dr. Benjamin) Benyamin-Taimoorazy of Bloomington; four granddaughters, Tiffany Nicole Taimoorazy and Melody Chloe Benyamin; and one sister, Victoria Manasserians of Maryland.She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Fredrick; two sisters, Hilda and Frieda.