Garabed (Garo) Bedros Sarian

9/25/1941 - 2/4/2026

Garabed (Garo) Bedros Sarian, 84, passed away at home in Florence, Kentucky on February 4, 2026.

Born on September 25, 1941, in Beirut, Lebanon, into a large Armenian family, Garo began a hairdresser apprenticeship at the age of 15 and quickly opened his first shop. He married Hripsime (Arpy) Sousani on January 29, 1966, had three children, and immigrated to the United States in 1973 at the age of 31, settling in St. Louis County, Missouri. Five years later, they all proudly became U.S. citizens.

They were active members of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Granite City, Illinois, where Garo and Arpy were loyal members of the Mr. & Mrs. Club. For many years, Garo had a charity beauty day at the church, cutting members’ hair to benefit the church.

Garo and Arpy worked hard to provide for their family, adding a fourth child, born in St. Louis. Garo opened seven salons within the West St. Louis and St. Charles areas and worked tirelessly as a stylist and small business owner for 45 + years. He also had numerous rental apartments. After selling his salons and apartments, he started a second career as a casino dealer for the next 25+ years in St. Louis and Indiana. Garo loved keeping busy and working and was even awarded the Dealer of the Year award in 2007 at the age of 66. He continued working full time until he was 78 years old, reluctantly stopping only when COVID forced the shutdown of casinos. Garo carried the heavy work ethic he learned as a child throughout his life. Garo also loved gardening, landscaping, cooking for his family and friends, playing the organ, and playing with his grandchildren.

Garo was preceded in death by Arpy, his loving wife of 51 years, in 2017 and is survived by his four children, Caroline (St. Louis), Bedig, Christine, and Shant (Kentucky); and five grandchildren, Tommy, Lauren, Luke, Landin, and Nicholas, in addition to numerous relatives in Beirut and throughout Paris and Marseille, France.

"Asvads hokin lousavoreh." 

RIP.