With deep sorrow we announce that Dr. Lorig Knar Kachadourian-Gabriel, 49, passed peacefully with her family by her side.

Lorig is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 12 years, Michael Gabriel, and their dear sweet daughter, Maria Zoe Gabriel. Lorig was the beloved youngest daughter to parents Dr. Aristakes (predeceased) and Adrienne Kachadourian, and her four sisters; Talene Kachadourian, Dr. Anise (George) Boudoughian, Karni (Kevin) Griffin, and Alicia Kachadourian. She will be deeply missed as a loving daughter-in-law to George and Zaphiria Gabriel, and sister-in-law Helen (Jonas) Rotos. She was adored and treasured by her nieces and nephews Karnic, Ardem and Maral Boudoughian, Lea and Daniel Griffin, Zaphiria and Deanna Rotos. Lorig is remembered as a sweet soul by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Born and raised in Binghamton, NY, Lorig graduated from Binghamton High School in 1994, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Psychology at the University at Buffalo. Lorig’s advice was to always “follow your bliss” in choosing a career and she succeeded. Lorig dedicated her career to treating Veteran mental health afflictions at the Veterans Administration (VA). Lorig was the recipient of a VA CDA-2 Career Development Award. Her grant research focused on mindfulness treatment for anger in Veterans with PTSD. She had also received a National Institute of Mental Health T32 Award. Lorig was widely published and frequently presented her scholarship at national conferences. She sought to develop and test new treatments including mindfulness to address Veteran mental health conditions while exploring other possibilities for future research as well. Lorig was always passionate about her research. As a full-time clinician and Mother, Lorig often found time outside of work to pursue her research interests which focused on anger and aggression, and the associated risk factors resulting from trauma exposure, PTSD, and substance abuse. Lorig first came to the VA through her doctoral internship at West Haven VA Medical Center in Connecticut. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Boston VA and Boston University, as well as at the National Center for PTSD Clinical Neurosciences Division in Connecticut. Lorig was a full-time staff psychologist at the VA. She had a unique practice split between two different clinics. She treated Veterans for PTSD in one clinic while treating Veterans with substance use disorders in another clinic. She also provided Veterans anger management group treatment. She loved her work and found tremendous satisfaction in helping others. She was a kind, methodical, thoughtful professional who cared deeply about Veterans.

Lorig loved the ocean or just being by the water, especially with her family swimming at Ocean Grove, NJ, flying kites at Brenton Point in the sea breeze in Newport, RI, walking along the coastline at her “happy place” in Woodmont, CT, walking down the 120 steps to the beach at the Horton Point Lighthouse in Southold, NY, sitting on a pier at Gantry Park in Long Island City, NY or watching the sunset at Ballie Beach in Mattituck, NY.

Lorig loved music. Lorig, Michael and Maria would play the “music game” where they would take turns on the long car rides to Binghamton or Mattituck picking songs to play for each other. It gave Lorig the chance to expose Maria to many songs that Lorig loved while also letting her learn more about Maria’s budding musical tastes. She loved musicals and movie soundtracks. Lorig took up the guitar so that she could take lessons at the same time as Maria’s piano lessons to also instill her love for music in Maria. They even performed in a music school recital together last year. Maria, Lorig and MyeMye (Adrienne) would have dance parties in front of the Alexa speaker in the kitchen, each taking turns picking songs.

Two of Lorig’s joys were her work and coffee shops. In fact, a relaxing Saturday morning for Lorig was one spent at a coffee shop with a Nutella latte revising a research paper. When ordering coffee and to avoid confusion when giving her name to the barista, Lorig would say her name was Lori with a “g”. It was from there that her nickname from Michael of “Lori-G” was born.

Lorig found such peace and happiness in her friends and family. She always emphasized the importance and value of her friendships. Even when she did not see them as often as they all wished, Lorig was always grateful for the opportunities to do so. She used her friendships as an example to Maria for how important it is to surround yourself with special people that you can connect with and count on. Traveling home to Binghamton was also one of her favorite things. It was a special place for her, and she loved sharing those warm feelings and happy moments with Maria. Trips home on the holidays were always an important opportunity for Lorig’s side of the family to gather and make new Binghamton memories for Lorig and Maria.

Lorig loved her Armenian culture and religion. She traveled to Armenia when she was young. Whether she lived in Binghamton, Buffalo, Watertown, MA, West Haven or New York City she sought out Armenian communities and churches. St. Vartan Cathedral in Manhattan held a special place in her and her family’s heart for many years. When the time came to bring Maria into a church community, Lorig sought out St. Vartan. She began teaching Sunday School at the Cathedral and was Maria’s teacher to encourage Maria’s growth in faith and in the church.

Lorig loved attending ballet performances (at Lincoln Center, the Boston Ballet, and at Maria’s Dance Matter ballet school) just as Lorig loved performing ballet throughout her childhood years. She looked forward to annual vacations with her family in Ocean Grove, NJ and Newport, RI, coming home to Binghamton for the holidays, and attending Broadway musicals. She loved skiing, bicycle riding, and meditating outside. She was an avid watcher of 90’s sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends and also of movies from the ’80s and ’90s that made her laugh and cry. And olives. She loved olives.

Her greatest love and joy without question came from being mother to Maria.

Our hearts ache at the loss of Lorig, but remembering her funny, witty sense of humor will always make us smile. She had a positive way of looking at any situation she was faced with. Even though her time here was short, she was a gift in our lives; knowing her and loving her was a true blessing. Her light continues to shine through her daughter, Maria, her most precious gift.

Services honoring Lorig will take place in New York City and Binghamton, NY: A wake will be on Monday, April 20 at St. Vartan Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, while the wake service will be at St. Vartan Cathedral at 11:30 am (doors open at 10:30 am) on Tuesday April 21. On Wednesday, April 22 there will be calling hours at Barber Memorial Home, 428 Main Street, Johnson City, NY from 5:00pm-8:00pm. The funeral service will be on Thursday, April 23 at St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Church, 12 Corbett Avenue, Binghamton, NY at 10:30am. Burial will be at Vestal Hills Memorial Park, Vestal, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice or to St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Church, 12 Corbett Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13903, (607) 722-8801.