A Family Funeral Home
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Anne A. Samuelian

October 6, 1939 - August 24, 2014
Racine, WI

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Visitation

Friday, August 29, 2014
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM CDT
Meadowbrook Country Club
2149 North Green Bay Road
Racine, WI 53405

AND Saturday at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church from 9:00 A.M. until time of service at 9:30 A.M.

Service

Saturday, August 30, 2014
9:30 AM CDT
St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church
4100 North Newman Road
Racine, WI 53406

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church
4100 North Newman Road
Racine, WI 53406

St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church
4605 Erie Street
Racine, WI 53402

Meadowbrook Country Club
2149 North Green Gay Road
Racine, WI 53405

Life Story / Obituary


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All who knew Anne Torosian Samuelian would agree that she was an extraordinary woman to know and love. Although she accomplished so much of which to be proud, there was no greater source of pride and joy in her life than being surrounded by her family. Anne was a devoted wife and mother to be sure, but she just may have argued that becoming a grandmother was her greatest source of pride and joy. She was a successful business woman who took on a variety of business endeavors, but what made her such a success was that she combined a passion for business with genuine compassion for people. There was no one who met Anne and left unchanged. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

As the 1930s were drawing to a close in America, we were eager to put the decade behind us as it was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. It was during this eventful time that Kerop and Verken Torosian were blessed with the birth of the baby girl they named Anne A. on October 6, 1939, in Dinuba, California. She was a student at local schools who experienced an upbringing that was fairly typical for the youth of her generation.

Always a service-orientated young woman, Anne was involved in a club known as Tawasi, which was affiliated with the YWCA, during her days at Horlick High School. This group played a major role at both Horlick and Park High schools. It was through her involvement in this group that Anne developed her heart for serving others as she organized activities both for school functions as well as for various charitable endeavors. Her involvement in her high school’s events and activities laid the foundation for her love for community involvement and for gaining the confidence and poise she needed in the business world. Anne went on to graduate in 1957.

When she was just a few years out of high school in 1965, Anne bought a Kelly Services franchise for a mere $400 and formed Torosian Enterprises as well. She truly broke the mold as the business world was mainly comprised of men at that time. Anne later continued her business efforts in Racine and then opened a second office in Kenosha in 1992. During her tenure with Kelly, her business attained sales of $300 million dollars and was the largest temp services team in Racine. In 1995 she became a corporate manager until officially retiring in May of 2007.

Known for her drive to always do her best, Anne’s business accomplishments didn’t end there as she opened the first high-end retail discount store that carried 27 different name brand jeans along with Evan Picone suits. The store, Fashion Distributors, was located inside Flatiron Mall and was a huge success. In 1967, she purchased Barkley’s Print Shop Inc. when she felt such empathy for the owner who just wanted out of the business after falling and breaking her hip. The print shop is highly successful and still owned by the family today.

Anne’s hard work certainly didn’t go unnoticed. In recognition of her business success she was the recipient of a “Woman of Distinction Award” for business sponsored by the YWCA in 1991 and has been given many awards for outstanding service through Kelly Services for sales and growth.

While she was busy in her career, Anne was blessed to find the love of her life, Sam Samuelian. Deeply in love, the sweethearts were married on November 24, 1966, at St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church. Together they welcomed two children into their hearts and home, Jodie and Jason. Anne was a nurturing mother who modeled both hard work and unconditional love, too. Not only did she show compassion to the woman who owned the print shop, but she also adopted the dog of a total stranger she had met at the grocery store and then given a ride home to. This comes as no surprise since Anne was not only a people lover but an animal lover as well.

Later in life Anne was filled with unspeakable joy to become a grandmother to Sawyer, Spencer, and Sasha, and it was easy to see that they were the light of her life. It was so special that her grandchildren lived right next door, and she was a vital part of her grandchildren’s lives whether she was taking them on a cruise, having them over for a meal, or cheering them on at their football games, dance performances, or any other school or sporting activities that they were a part of. Sunday evenings, Anne and Sam would create a meal from her vast collection of cookbooks and entertain the whole family at their Caledonia home.

Since their family had grown up using Meadowbrook Country Club, Anne, who was an avid golfer, was the first to jump on board with a group of new investors when they began experiencing financial difficulties. Meadowbrook was her passion, and she served as a director and secretary of the board. She enjoyed golfing with her friends at the club and was a member of their ladies senior district team.

In addition to her business involvements, Anne generously gave to her community in several other ways. She was the past president of sales and marketing clubs of Racine and Kenosha, beginning in 1990 until the present she was the chairperson of Opportunities Industrialization Center, past chairperson of Rotary Post Prom, and chairperson of the Racine Area Manufacturing and Commerce-Commerce Division. Anne had been a member of the Racine Jaycettes, Crimestoppers of Racine, Sheriff’s Advisory Board, and Racine Convention Bureau. She and Sam were also members of St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church and participated with many other groups throughout Racine. Anne was also inducted into the Horlick Hall of Fame in 2009.

Throughout her journey Anne enriched her life in numerous ways. She took several cruises with her children and grandchildren, visited Turkey, Armenia, and Ireland in addition to numerous vacations to California and Arizona including this past March for a Torosian family reunion. Anne frequented casinos, often with her friend Arlene, played birthday bingo with her Buchaklian sisters, and was part of a card club and neighborhood book club. She loved all kinds of music and shows like America’s Got Talent.

A woman who would do anything for anyone, Anne Samuelian was a blessing to those around her. A loving and caring daughter, Anne was fortunate to share her home with her mother Verken until she was 93 years old. The matriarch of her family, Anne treasured her family more than anything else on this side of heaven. A stranger to none and a friend to all, Anne will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Anne A. Samuelian died on Sunday, August 24, 2014. Anne’s family includes her husband, Sam; daughter, Jodie (Geoff) Schick and their children, Sawyer, Spencer and Sasha, all of Racine; son, S. Jason Samuelian of Franklin; brothers, Art (Diane) Torosian of Scottsdale, AZ, Herman (Una) Torosian of Madison; brother-in-law, George Samuelian of Waukegan; sister-in-law, Mary Boyajian of Fresno, CA; her loving dog, Allie; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents, Anne was also preceded in death by her brother Jacob. Funeral services will be held at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, 4100 N. Newman Rd, Saturday, August 30, 2014, 9:30 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian and Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Anne’s second home, Meadowbrook Country Club, 2149 N. Green Bay Rd on Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning at the church from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church or to Meadowbrook Country Club for a memorial to be established in Anne’s name have been suggested.

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