ARMENIA REBURIES MANOOGIANS
By Laura Swan, Free Press Special Writer

Detroit Free Press, United States
0070719/NEWS01/707190431/1003
July 19 2007

The remains of Detroit philanthropist Alex Manoogian and his wife were
removed from St. John’s Armenian Church in Southfield and reburied
this week at the Holy Etchmiadzin in their native Armenia.

Manoogian, best known for his donation of the Manoogian mansion
that has served as the official residence for the city’s mayor,
died in 1996. His wife, Marie Manoogian, died three years before
him. They are survived by two children, six grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.

At the request of Karekin II, supreme patriarch and Catholicos of
Armenians, the Manoogians were reburied Tuesday in a place of honor
where only former patriarchs of the Armenian church lie.

Services and ceremonies were performed with full state and religious
honors. The caskets were escorted by an Armenian armed forces honor
guard to an open-air altar where the supreme patriarch offered the
solemn Repose of the Souls service. The gravesite is in front of the
Treasury Museum, which was built by the Manoogians.

Daughter Louise Manoogian Simone said at the reception following the
service: "Today, I can feel my parents smiling in heaven … grateful
to His Holiness that they will now rest eternally on this blessed
earth of Holy Etchmiadzin, the heart and soul of every Armenian —
past, present and future."

Alex Manoogian moved to Detroit in 1924 and founded what became the
multi-national Masco Corp., which now boasts sales in the billions.

Throughout his life, Manoogian donated money for a variety of
charitable causes. He was named National Hero of Armenia by President
Levon Ter Petrosian in 1993.