Martuni has been seeing an unusually high number of deaths in the last couple of days.

Arpi, the 85 year old grand-aunt of my future mother-in-law passed away a couple of days ago. Her funeral was yesterday. She was a decorated war veteran and never married. She was a kind of ornery old women who for the most part kept to herself and didn’t bother anyone. Since she didn’t have any children, she was looked after by her nephew and grand-nephew (the mayor), who made sure she was comfortable in her last few years of her life. The mayor made sure she had a proper funeral. She was laid to rest next to her sister and brother-in-law.

On the day of Arpi’s funeral, my former neighbor Garen’s mother-in-law died. She was in her 70’s.

And since things happen in threes when it come to people dying, Geno the welder/plumber died of a brain tumor. He was only 60 years old and was a person that was very well respected not only because he was good at what he did, but he never overcharged or did anything unnecessary for his customers. He will be really missed.

Dr. Hayrapetyan is very sick and could die anytime. He is 70 or 71 and is the next door neighbor to Arpi.

Yes, death is the last page of ones life and for these people who have lived a somewhat long life, the book of their lives been completed and can now be added to our collection of memories.