Grace Marlyn Nahigian

age 88, passed away at home on June 25, 2024 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lung Cancer. She was the beloved wife of Orthopedic Hand Surgeon Stanley Nahigian MD (deceased), mother of Grace Ann (deceased) and Joyce Nahigian, and Barbara Nahigian Fernandez (Luis), grandmother of Tomas and Anna Fernandez, sister of Gary Vart (deceased) and Helen Boldy (Mihran), daughter of Richard and Haigouhie (nee Ouzounian) Vart (Vartabedian). 

Born in Philadelphia, PA (1935) she attended high school at St. Mary’s boarding school in Peekskill, NY, later graduating from Philadelphia’s Ellis School, then Peirce College (1954) majoring in business administration. She managed accounting, payroll and other office work in her family’s business (Vart-Hahn Nursing Home, Yeadon, PA) until marrying and moving to Cleveland (1957). A full-time mother and homemaker, she managed payroll and other functions in her husband’s busy medical practice until he retired in 2012. As a long-time volunteer for St. Luke’s Hospital Women’s Auxiliary Board she enjoyed working in the hospital’s gift shop and participating in their other fundraising activities.

She traveled with her husband and daughters to many vacation spots and medical conferences, living in Sweden for a year during her husband’s hand surgery fellowship following his residency at St. Luke’s. Grace enjoyed entertaining, graciously hosting large numbers of family and guests for extended summer stays at her Ventnor/ Atlantic City, NJ beach-front home as well as throwing large memorable holiday and other parties in Cleveland. Grace played tennis and golf as a long-time member of the Cleveland Racquet Club, Mayfield Sand Ridge Club, and Florida’s Bonita Bay Club. She especially loved participating in aerobics classes in Chagrin Falls, there earning the nickname “Amazing Grace”.

She was a devoted wife to her husband of 61 years and loving mother to her daughters. Everyone remembers Grace’s warm smile, laugh, upbeat attitude, tireless energy, and charisma.

Please donate to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (curealz.org) in lieu of sending flowers. 

VIEWING / CALLING hours 5-7pm Wed July 17 at Brown-Forward Funeral Home (17022 Chagrin Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH). FUNERAL Thurs July 18 at 12 noon and CALLING hours prior to service 11a-12pm at Church of the Saviour (2537 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH). Entombment at Knollwood Cemetery’s Mausoleum (Mayfield Heights) following service.