Armina Elmas "Steffie" Kazarian

Armina Elmas “Steffie” Kazarian, 93, of Lake Forest, Illinois passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on February 3rd, 2023 after a long and rewarding life as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, grandmother and friend to many. Born on January 18, 1930, in Chicago, to Abram and Elmas Bedrosian, she grew up in Chicago and Milwaukee, where she graduated from Lincoln High School. She went on to earn a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and an M.A. from Roosevelt University in Chicago. After college she married John Kazar Kazarian, of Waukegan, Illinois and raised five children in Lake Bluff and Lake Forest, Illinois. She taught high school math in Waukegan for over 20 years and was tenacious and dedicated in the classroom. Her students remember her as the teacher who always believed in them and insisted they believe in themselves. They frequently described her as, “The hardest teacher I ever had—I loved her.” She was equally tenacious in everything else she did, whether playing bridge and tennis with friends or backgammon with her husband, children and grandchildren. Despite her boundless love for her family, she never let them win and claimed to have taught them everything they knew. Armina travelled widely to Australia, China, Tibet, Europe and to her ancestral homeland of Armenia. She extended enriching experiences to her children and grandchildren, bringing them on trips and sharing in their lives. She loved the theater and even volunteered as an usher so she could see as many shows as possible. Known to her grandchildren as “Mimi,” she was a faithful attendee at school sports events and musical performances by her grandchildren. Armina was beloved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed. She was preceded in death by her eldest son John, Jr. and her husband of 66 years. She is survived by her other children, Stephanie Kearney and her husband Brian, Jacqueline Kazarian and her husband Peter Cunningham, Gregory Kazarian and his wife Kim, and Stacey Lareau and her husband Jim. She has 9 grandchildren, Kevin Kearney and his wife Elizabeth, Briana Kearney and her husband Tony Cappell, Sima Cunningham and her husband Dorian Gehring, Liam Cunningham, John T. Kazarian, Alexandra Kazarian, Kenneth Kazarian, Samara Lareau and Jackson Lareau and four great grandchildren, Robbie, Margot, Brian and Zulal. Armina was laid to rest beside her late husband following a private service. Friends and family will celebrate her extraordinary life and unforgettable spirit with a service and reception on Saturday March 11th at 11:00 a.m. at Conway Farms Golf Club, 425 S. Conway Farms Road, Lake Forest, Illinois. All who knew and loved her are welcome to join us, share memories of Armina and pay tribute to a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Armina by contributing in her memory to Waukegan to College, a not-for-profit dedicated to sending first generation students from Waukegan to college. Waukegan to College is located at 410 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois 60085 and on the web at waukegantocollege.org.

Armina Elmas "Steffie" Kazarian

January 18, 1930 - February 3, 2023