Esther Joan Nalchajian

August 31, 1935 – December 14, 2025

Esther Joan Weigel Nalchajian was born on August 31, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Henry and  Emily (Pretzer) Weigel, Volga German immigrants from Russia, and entered eternal rest on  December 14, 2025.

She was intelligent, creative, quick-witted, caring, and deeply family-focused. She was a  voracious reader, spoke fluent German, was an exceptional entertainer, and wrote deeply  personal notes cherished by all who received them. In her youth, she designed and created  clothes for herself and others. Esther was active in school, church, and community, and  maintained close childhood and family friendships throughout her life. Her warmth and smile  brightened every room she entered.

Growing up, Esther lost her father at the age of 12 and watched how hard her mother worked  to support the family. Inspired by her mother's perseverance, she received a college education  and was the first in her family to do so. Esther graduated from Northwestern University's Dental  Hygiene Program in Chicago in 1956, where she met her husband, Charles Sarkis Nalchajian,  who graduated from dental school the same year.

Upon graduation, Esther and Charles married at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in  Dolton, IL, moving shortly thereafter to Worms, Germany, where Charles served two years as a  Captain and dentist with the U.S. Army. Esther and Charles, with daughter Debra, moved to  Fresno, California, where they established their dental practice at the corner of Belmont and  Van Ness, welcoming son Greg shortly thereafter. They operated a second office in Caruthers for  20 years, and in the late 1960s purchased a new office in Fresno on Shaw Avenue, where Esther  continued part-time in dental hygiene while raising their children. She formally retired after over  30 years of practice, leaving her patients in the capable hands of niece, Mary Ellen Beers, also a  dental hygienist.

Esther loved her German family as much as her Armenian family, and she was loved in return.  Both families maintained close relationships, now four generations deep. She honored her  Missouri Synod, Lutheran upbringing and was devoted to Our Savior's Lutheran Church for over  60 years, later joining weekly nondenominational services at the Terraces at San Joaquin  Gardens, where she resided after Charles passed away.

Esther was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and steadfast child advocate. She  dedicated her life to her husband, Charles, who died in 2012 after 22 years living with  Parkinson's disease. Together, they built a remarkable life, working side by side, raising their  children and enjoying the grandchildren, and nurturing extended family, friends, their  community, and children who needed representation.

As a mother, Esther raised her children to be faithful Christians, to be strong, to give back, and  to know they were always supported and loved. She showed her love by relentlessly showing up  — from nightly dinners at 6:00 p.m. to serving as a Brownie leader, Girl Scout leader, room  mother, sports team mom, and second mother to her children's friends. Her strength was quiet  and dependable, the kind that held families together without seeking recognition. She set high  expectations, taught her children to follow the rules, and never give up.

She was overjoyed when her grandchildren arrived, first Parker, then Jessica, and Adam. She and  Charles attended as many activities as possible, taking immense pride in all their  accomplishments.

Esther loved family celebrations. She never missed birthdays and treasured Christmas gatherings, where the family sang The 12 Days of Christmas using the cards she drew by hand  more than 60 years ago. On Thanksgiving, everyone awaited her pomegranate mold and  signature holiday cookies, now lovingly carried on by the next generation. She enjoyed cooking  and sharing her recipes, some have never been replicated, as she had a special touch.

As a family friend, she was always prepared with an open home, open refrigerator, and open  arms. She and Charles shared decades of close friendships, gathering often, celebrating always,  and raising their families together.

Esther was a doer – always the first to volunteer, to help, and to anticipate the needs of others.  A fierce child advocate, there was little she would not do to help a child. After her children were  grown, she devoted much of her time to church service and volunteer work with ChildHelp USA  and the Fresno County Child Abuse Prevention Council, where she served as an ombudsman to  the courts.

She volunteered alongside former Judge Elizabeth O'Neill of the Fresno Family Court, reviewing  testimony and writing countless letters to elected leaders on behalf of children who needed a  voice. She received a distinguished service award for her advocacy, yet her focus always  remained on the children.

At The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, her first volunteer role was serving as head of the  Sunshine Committee, where she handwrote personal notes of celebration and sympathy to  residents. Later, she and her longtime friend Charlotte founded the "Pedal Pushers," a volunteer  effort in which ambulatory residents pushed non-ambulatory residents throughout the  Gardens. In recent years, she greeted residents daily while enjoying her coffee and cookies.  Many shared that they still look for her smile.

Daughter Debra Nalchajian-Cohen (Dr. Lou Cohen; daughter Jessica) and son Dr. Greg Nalchajian  (Julianne; sons Parker (Jenna; son Ben) and Adam (Emma) mourn her passing, while finding  comfort in knowing God has reunited her with Charles and those who preceded her.

Her Midwest nieces and nephews Sandra, Candace, Cindy, Vance, Mark, and Sherman, and their  families, along with her West Coast family, sisters-in-law Olga Beers, Josephine Nalchajian, and  Zabel Bozajian, nieces and nephews Mary Ellen, Richard, Christina, David, Nicole, Lynne, and  Brian, and their families, join in gratitude for having known and loved Esther.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Charles Nalchajian; her parents, Emily and  Henry Weigel; her sister Wilma (Bob); her brother Richard (Barbara); her brothers-in-law Dr.  Richard Nalchajian and Vahan Bozajian.

The family is deeply grateful for her devoted caregivers Vilma and Judith, who brought sunshine  and love to Esther's world and ensured she remained active in exercise classes, Bible study,  chapel, meals, and of course, daily coffee and cookies.

A private, family-only Christian burial service was held at Ararat Armenian Cemetery on  Saturday, December 27, 2025, on a beautiful day filled with sunshine and wispy clouds.

Remembrances may be made to Valley Children's Healthcare Foundation, 9300 Valley Children's  Place M/S PC17, Madera, CA 93636 or Fresno Council on Child Abuse Prevention, 4946 E. Yale  #102, Fresno, CA 93727.