Nancy attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, for two years.  Along with her general education classes, she took classes in Bible, and her love of studying the word of God continued to grow.  She completed her education at California State University, Fresno, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, and a K-8 Teaching Credential.  Nancy taught elementary school in Burbank, California and then returned to Fresno to teach at Winchell Elementary School.  Of the different grades that she taught, she especially enjoyed teaching third grade.

It was here, in Fresno, where Nancy met her future husband, Karl Avakian.  They were married in 1963 and blessed with two children, Laura and David.  Nancy poured all of her love into her family.  Her love for her family and their love for her were only surpassed by their love for the Lord.

Nancy and her husband, Karl, a pastor, shared the same calling for ministry.  She ministered alongside Karl to the youth at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, in Fresno, California; in the pastorate at the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey; and in the church conference pastorate, to the 24 churches of the Armenian Evangelical Union in the United States and Canada.

Nancy always had a calling to study and teach others the word of God and was faithful in doing so.  Throughout different times in her life, she taught children Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and led high school women's, young women's and women's Bible Studies, even up until recent times.  She loved seeing the impact God's word had on peoples' lives, and seeing people grow in faith in Christ.

Nancy delighted in reaching out to others, through phone calls, cards, and visits with friends and their families.  She was a good listener and would always pray for people and encourage them.  Always young at heart, she loved people and related well to people of any age.  She was not just a friend, sister-in-Christ, or Bible study leader; she was family and made you family.  She was a wonderful, loving and caring Christian woman who continued to enlarge her circles of friendships all of her life.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Effie Malootian, her aunt, Armenouhie Roumian, and by her beloved husband Karl, of 46 years.  Nancy is survived by her two children, Laura and David, her sister-in-law, Veronica Keoshkerian, and her husband, Daniel, and by her nephews and nieces and their families.

A visitation to honor Nancy's memory will be held at Yost and Webb Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. A Memorial Service and celebration of Nancy's life will be held at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 10:00 am.  Remembrances may be made in Nancy's memory to the Avakian Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Fresno Pacific University, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno, CA 93702 .