Obituary: Margaret B. (Bartolomeo) Mikaelian

Margaret B. (Bartolomeo) Mikaelian, 91, of Cranston, passed away on Saturday December 15, 2012 at Elmhurst Extended Care, Providence. 

She was the beloved wife of the late Charles “Garo” Mikaelian.  Born in Cranston, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Anna K. (Ricci) Bartolomeo.

She is survived by her loving children, Carol A. Schlink and her husband Robert of Providence, Joseph P. Mikaelian and his wife Gina of Westerly, Cynthia A. Klenk of Providence, and Garo C. Mikaelian and Michelle Bacon of Cranston; her grandchildren, Robert C. Schlink, Ava M. Gaudet, Nicole B. Mikaelian, Briana L. Mikaelian, Dana M. Mikaelian, and Benjamin C. Klenk; her brothers Joseph Bartolomeo and his wife Rose of Cranston, and Thomas Bartolomeo and his wife Jean of Wakefield.  She was also the sister of the late Grace Jackson.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Margaret was known for her non-judgmental compassion towards others. She opened her home to anyone in need by offering a place to call home, someone to call family, and spiritual comfort through religious guidance. 

She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Cranston and a member of the Cranston Senior Citizens Center, The National Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), Senior Citizens League (Retired Enlisted Association), and the Women’s Health Initiative. 

In her past years Margaret was a Charter Member of the Arlington School PTA, serving as its President, the Hugh B. Bain PTA, serving on its Board, and past President of the Cranston High School East PTSO.  She was a Charter Member of the St. Mary’s Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, serving as Teacher and then CCD Principal at the Arlington School.  She worked as a secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., the U.S. Naval Air Station and U.S. Naval Air Bases, Quonset Point, R.I., also at the Selective Service System, Cranston, Providence, and Warwick Boards.  In the Providence and Cranston areas she held several secretarial positions, the last of which was in the Law Offices of Friedman and Kessler, after which she retired in 1998.  Also she was the first Tupperware Dealer to be promoted to Manager when Tupperware Home Parties first came to Rhode Island.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Cranston.  Interment will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.  VISITING HOURS Wednesday 5-9 p.m.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, National Headquarters, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.