With great sorrow, the Eastern Diocese mourns the loss of Frank Avakian Stoneson, a beloved leader of our community, who passed away in Naples, FL, on September 4, 2024. He was 89.
Frank was an active presence in the Eastern Diocese throughout his life. He and his dear wife of 62 years, Susan, were deeply involved in the life of St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, NJ, where Frank served as parish council chair, and where the couple jointly chaired a successful Diocesan Assembly in 1991.
But Frank was especially well known for his decades-long association with the Diocesan Center in New York, where he held leadership roles beginning in the 1980s, as the Diocese’s Executive Director and Director of Finance, and later in the 1990s and beyond as its Director of Facilities. The Diocese also tapped Frank’s organizational and outreach skills to direct the historic Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin I, the 131st Catholicos of All Armenians, in 1996.
Always dapper and professional, Frank was blessed with a welcoming, informal manner and delightful sense of humor. His avuncular personality made him a friend and confidant to his coworkers at the Diocesan Center, where he remains fondly remembered, and will be sorely missed.
“I knew Frank from his leadership of our community in Naples,” said Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan. “But every day at the Diocesan Center I encounter the fruits of his long and valuable service here. He truly loved our church and its people, and the people he worked with returned that love.”
Frank is survived by his wife Susan; their children Richard and Diana and their spouses; granddaughters Violet and Palesa; and a large circle of family, friends, colleagues, and admirers. Our prayers are with them at this time.
Plans call for a private funeral and burial, with a memorial service to be scheduled at a later date. In the meantime, the Stoneson family has asked that In-lieu-of-flowers donations be made in Frank’s name to the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (630 Second Ave., New York, NY 10016); or online at armenianchurch.us.
The family has also prepared a touching memorial note about Frank Stoneson’s life, which we share with you below.
We offer prayers to our risen Lord Jesus Christ, to remember His servant Frank Avakian Stoneson, and receive him into His eternal kingdom. May He grant consolation to Frank’s loved ones in the days to come.
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Frank Avakian Stoneson (1934-2024)
Frank Avakian Stoneson, son of Charles and Vartouhi Avakian Stoneson (née Arevigian), beloved husband, loving father, doting grandfather and dear friend to many, was born on December 17, 1934, in New York City. Frank grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, and later in Cliffside Park, NJ. It was here that Frank met his loving wife Susan after falling in love with her from a single photograph. The couple wed in 1962, and were married for 62 wonderful years.
Frank graduated from New York University and began his career at American Standard Corporation, where he worked for more than two decades. He and Susan settled in Tenafly, NJ, where they raised their family and became an integral part of St. Thomas Armenian Church. Frank followed his calling to serve the Armenian Church in a lay capacity, when he became a member of the church’s parish council. He served for eight years, including two as parish council chair.
Frank’s desire to work in the church then led him to accept a position as Executive Director of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), where he directed its Department of Finance and served in other staff positions in later years.
Frank’s love for the Armenian community was also evident when he was elected President of the Central Committee of the Evereg-Fenesse Society, where he served for three years. In the early 1990s, Frank and Susan had the great privilege of co-chairing the annual Diocesan Assembly hosted by St. Thomas Church. Through the Armenian Church, in parishes across the United States, Frank’s big personality and jovial spirit touched countless lives.
In retirement, Frank and Susan moved to Naples, FL. Here, Frank found his true and final ministry to the Armenian Church and its people through his leadership in the mission parish of the Armenian Church of Naples. There, he took on many of the responsibilities of creating a viable and dynamic community life for those who made Naples their home or a vacation spot.
As much as Frank loved the Armenian Church and its people, his greatest love was for his family. Spending his golden years in Naples surrounded by his loving wife, children, their spouses and grandchildren, was the most cherished gift God could have ever given him. Family was everything to Frank and he adored not only his immediate family, but his extended relatives in the tri-state area as well.
Frank is survived by his wife Susan Stoneson (née Hovhanesian); his son Richard Stoneson and his wife Carol; his daughter Diana O’Donnell and her husband Donnacha; and two granddaughters, Violet O’Donnell and Palesa Stoneson. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. May God grant Frank’s soul eternal rest and peace.
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