Fresno, California - Edward Kaye was born October 13, 1928, in Detroit,
Michigan, to parents Elias
and Madeline Kooyomjian (Kaye). Eddie's mother
passed away when he was 7
years old. In 1939, His father
married Ovsanna Seropian
Kaye, who raised Eddie as
if he were her own son. Two
children, Harold Kaye and
Pearl Kaye were born of this
marriage and joined Eddie as
brother and sister.
Eddie's childhood was
spent in Detroit which explained his passion for all
Detroit sports teams. The
Detroit Tigers were his team
through thick and thin. Eddie joined the U.S. Marines
in 1945, in the latter stages
of World War II, and was
assigned to the Panama Canal protection detail. After
the war, he joined his family who had moved to Calwa, Ca., and opened Kaye's
Market at Jensen and Cedar
Ave. He worked for a time in
the family business and then
at the U.S. Postal Service.
He is most remembered for
his work at Standard Brands
Paint in downtown Fresno,
where he was the "go-to guy"
for paint for 25 years.
Eddie met and fell in love
with Helen Mardigian, and
they were married in May
1957, at St. Gregory's Church
in Fowler. They settled into
a home on Brown Ave. in
Fresno, where they lived for
nearly 50 years. In 2006, they
bought a home next door to
Helen's sister Sue Manzell
Kilijian and her husband, Michael. This led to a very happy decade living next door to
family in their golden years.
Helen passed away in 2016,
and it was a crushing blow
for Eddie. He carried on as
best he could. He still played
cards regularly with friends
and family, continued to
root for Detroit sports teams,
and tended his garden which
produced exceedingly tasty
lemons, plums and avocados.
Nothing made Ed happier
than giving these away by the
basketful.
Eddie moved to The Windham senior retirement community in 2019. He was so
grateful and appreciative for
his time there. He had dinner and lunch companions
who became his very good
friends, including Roma,
Ellie, Frankie, Margie, and
especially Ann Attoian.
The staff was attentive to
his needs, gave him loving care, and made sure he
never missed a bingo game.
He was grateful to all of the
Winham's excellent staff,
including especially Barbara
Robinson and Toni Pentaris.
Hinds Hospice became his
caregiver in the final year of
his life. The family is deeply grateful for the wonderful
care and constant encouragement the Hinds nurses and
staff gave him, including especially his chaplain, Chaplain Paul De Pledge, and one
of the most wonderful nurses
he ever met, Lois Blough.
Eddie and Helen had no
children of their own, but
their lives changed forever
when their 4 year-old niece
Michelle Manzell Soares lost
her father, Hal Manzell. Eddie stepped up and became
an important father figure in
Michelle's life. It was a bond
that continued until his death,
and it was Michelle who was
at his bedside when he passed
away Thanksgiving morning.
The theme "It takes a village" was evident in Ed's
last years. In 2017, Ed was a
member of the World War II
Honor Flight to Washington
D.C., and this was a highlight of his life. His sister,
Pearl Kaye Harr, provided
great support and helped facilitate the sale of his house and possessions prior to his move to The Windham. She brought him Armenian foods that he craved, and spent countless hours with him. Regular visits from his nephew Leon Kaye and his dog Whiskey, brothers-inlaw Mike Kilijian and Bruce Harr, and niece and nephew Michelle and Thomas Soares and grand-nephews Tommy and William Soares, helped Eddie stay alert and vital. He was active in his community as a member of St. Paul's Armenian Church where he served for many years as Treasurer of the Men's Forum. He served his Armenian community as a member of Triple X fraternity and he was also proud to be a Mason.
Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen, his sister-in-law Sue Kilijian, his niece Alison Kaye Harr, and nephew Justin Harr. He is survived by niece Michelle Soares and husband Thomas and their 2 sons grandnephews Tommy and William Soares; sister Pearl Kaye Harr and husband Bruce; brother-in-law Michael Kilijian; brother Harold Kaye and wife Caroline and their 3 children: nephew Leon Kaye; nephew Kevin Kaye and wife Tamara and their 2 children grandniece August and grandnephew Rocky; and niece Rachel Kaye Nelsen and her husband Jay and their 2 children grandnieces Romy and Zinnia. He also leaves behind dear cousins in the Simsarian and Azadigian families, and lifelong friends in the Derian, Basmajian, Manoogian, and Grabe families.
A memorial service will be held on Dec. 16th at St. Paul's Armenian Church, 3767 N. First St., Fresno, at 11:30am with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, Eddie's family would be grateful for donations to Hinds Hospice, St. Paul's Armenian Church in Fresno, or t