Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in Nevada Presbytery,

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration with family, friends and church family.  I am asking for prayers for me and my family.  My sweet Dad, John Shahinian died yesterday morning (December 24.2015).  He would have been 86 years old today – a Christmas baby.  We moved him from hospital to hospice on Wednesday afternoon and he died peacefully with my mother, my brother and me at his side Thursday morning at 5:40 a.m.

My dad was a loving father, faithful husband and a man of strong faith.  He was loving and gracious, positive and forgiving.  We are comforted in knowing that he is with Jesus and he was met by my sister Rachel and niece Annika (they died in a car crash this past August) and other loved ones who have died in faith.  My Dad had been disabled since 1980 when he suffered a head injury and was not supposed to make it.  We feel so blessed that we had nearly 36 “extra” years with him!  Please pray especially for my mom who is grieving the loss of her husband of nearly 60 years.

Thank you for letting me share a little bit about my Dad.  Thank you for the prayers and support.

God bless each of you.  Savor every moment with your family and loved ones!

Yours in Christ, Hilda (Pecoraro)

From the Sacramento Bee website:

John K. Shahinian, 85, of Fresno died Dec. 24. He was a retired medical researcher at UCLA. Memorial: 2 p.m. Dec. 30 at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church. Arrangements: Yost & Webb Funeral Home.

Remembrance donations:

AMAA Syria Relief, 31 W. Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652; Website
       Choose Syria Relief from the Designation Box

Fresno Rescue Mission, 310 G St., Fresno, CA 93706; Website

Camp Arev, 411 E. Acacia Ave., Glendale, CA 91205. Website