Serving Fresno’s St. Paul Armenian Church was something Diane Boyajian learned at a young age. One of her fondest memories of her mother, Helen Shehrian, took place around 1943 at the church which was then located at Santa Clara and L. Streets. There were no crosses on the altar curtains, so one day, her mother obtained permission, got on a ladder, took her needle and thread, and sewed crosses on each curtain as little Diane watched on in amazement. Growing up, church services, Sunday school, Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO), and parish dinners were part of Diane’s childhood. Her talented mother was often the first to volunteer, and would help with many church activities with her young children in tow. She recalls her mother helping with anything and everything, and, of course, there was always lots of cooking and baking in the church kitchen.
In 1949, Diane was a charter member of the first Junior ACYO at St. Paul Church, and held various positions including president. When she was 15, she met a handsome young man named York Boyajian, who was a member of the Senior ACYO. York and Diane later became close friends, and when he offered Diane the keys to drive his beloved red convertible Chevy, everyone knew it was serious. The couple was married in 1957 at St. Paul Church, and their marriage was blessed with three children, Tamara, David, and Karen.
As Diane settled into life with her husband and children on their farm, serving in various positions at church remained important to her. She joined the Junior Ladies Society in 1967, and was elected as vice president within one year. One of her early efforts was chairing the annual Mother’s Day Luncheon, a signature event of the Ladies Society. “We invited all the mothers, in-laws, and grandmothers to enjoy a homemade Armenian meal together,” Diane says. She and her committee planned the menu, purchased the food, decorated the hall, prepared the dishes, and often served over 200 guests on each holiday. “It was an amazing experience to see so many men and women come together every year to honor their cherished mothers and grandmothers at our church.”
Diane became involved with the Raisin Wives of California, where she served as president for four terms. “At that time, the organization worked to promote Fresno raisins locally and globally while providing scholarships to agricultural students at Reedley College and Fresno State, and running a country store each fall,” she says. Guided by the guidance from her mother, Diane continued to improve her cooking skills and prepare family recipes. She would often consult the Ladies Society Procedure Books, the binders that documented cherished recipes, measurements, and instructions for cooking and serving at the church. When St. Paul Church hosted the California State Assembly gathering for the Diocese, she agreed to coordinate the menus for over 400 attendees. “Three days of breakfast, lunch and dinner events were managed with a remarkable committee, solid organizational and management skills, and the gift of making outstanding Armenian food,” she says.
Through the years, Diane has cooked for many Mother’s Day luncheons, the annual Blessing of the Grapes Picnic, and California State Assembly meetings. One of her favorite meals was for the annual luncheon for members of the California Armenian Home in Fresno. Diane and her fellow members planned an authentic Armenian menu that the residents were invited to enjoy with their families. After eating a plate of traditional dolma and madzoon one year, one of the elderly residents said to Diane, “This is just like my mother used to make for us.” For Diane, that was the sweetest thing you could say to her. Diane taught Sunday school and served on the Parish Council for 14 years. She is grateful for the close friends she has enjoyed at her church, and for her three loving children and four grandchildren.
“In the true Armenian tradition of abundance, our appetites and our church have been blessed by Diane and her countless contributions through the years,” says Ladies Society member Tracy Beberian.
