Garabed 'Gary' Zakarian, faith, family, country foremost

Garabed  “Gary” D. Zakarian, 55, of Smyrna, died suddenly Saturday June 8, 2013, as the result of a pedestrian accident in Dewey Beach.  He was born Feb. 15, 1958 in Wilmington, son of Garabed V. Zakarian and Dolores J. Crader Zakarian. Gary passed away on the birthday of his niece, who predeceased him.

Gary was a veteran of the U.S. Navy submarine service and was a member of VFW Camden Post 3238 and American Legion David C. Harrison Post of 14 Smyrna.

Fishing, building computers, working on his second black belt in Taekwondo, following his beloved Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles, and walking his sister’s golden retrievers, Goldie, Beau, Haley and Herbie to the beach, were some of his favorite pastimes. He was very involved in the Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th degrees. He carried his faith, his family and his country in his heart and displayed them proudly. He was described as a gentle giant by his family and was generous to a fault with everyone.

In addition to his parents, who reside in Rehoboth Beach, he is survived by a brother Daniel V. Zakarian and his wife Elaine of Kemah, Texas; sisters Karen L. Zakarian and her fiancé Jesse Burns of Rehoboth Beach, and Margaret A. Hayden and her husband David of Wilmington; nephews Matthew Hayden, Phillip Zakarian and his wife Shelby, and Danny Zakarian; a niece Arielle Zakarian; five extended family members, Jason, Brian and Maggie Burns and Brian and Becca Taylor; and close family and friends, too numerous to count, as well as his new kitten Mary.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Wednesday June 19, at St. Polycarp Roman Catholic Church, 135 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, where friends may call on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church.  Burial with military honors will follow the Mass at 1 p.m. at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. A memorial service in the Rehoboth Beach area will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road, Newark, DE 19713, or Catholic Charities of Delaware, P.O. Box 2610, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes, Lewes.