Sema L. Shepard

Beloved Wife, Sister, Step-Mother and Step-Grandmother, Aunt, and faithful Friend

Sema Lucille Shepard (nee Tarpinian), 77, of Niagara Falls, NY, passed away unexpectedly on February 27, 2023 at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. She was born on July 5, 1945 in Niagara Falls, NY, to the late Khachig and Geneva (Andonian) Tarpinian.

Sema attended local schools and graduated from Niagara Falls High School. She was a graduate of Niagara University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in 1970 with a focus on Social Studies, grades 7-12. In 1977, she earned a Master of Arts Degree in History Education which included a Certificate from the Soviet and Eastern European Institute.

Sema was initially employed at the US Post Office in Lewiston, NY and later served as US Postmaster at Niagara University for over 20 years until her retirement. She volunteered with the hunger relief and social services agency Heart, Love & Soul for their annual dinner and fundraiser.

Sema was an extremely generous, supportive, loving and kind individual who enriched the lives, hearts, and souls of everyone who knew her. She will be dearly missed.

Sema is survived by Stuart Shepard, her husband of 30 years; her brother Sidney Tarpinian; her great niece Tara Fadel Patten (Adam); She is also survived by her step-children David (Amy) Shepard; Ann (Henry) Jalsa and their children Caleb, Joshua, and Mary; and Jeffrey Shepard and his daughter Abigail- all of whom Sema loved as her own. Cousins Sara Andonian, Paul (Kris) Andonian; Tom (Joyce) Tarpinian; Lucille (Phil) D'Amico; and John (Germaine) Tarpinian and her many other beloved cousins, great nieces and nephews, and her extended Shepard family in New York, Michigan and Minnesota. Additionally, Sema had many close friends including Deacon Al and Debbie Amato, Mary Avdoian, Debbie Barbato, Carol Beebe, Mark and Anna Bruno, Irene Elia, Father Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Roz Mashoian, Joanne Mallam, Brother Martin Schneider, C.M., Betty Shepard (the mother of David, Ann, and Jeffrey), and Sharon Watkinson.

Sema was predeceased by her sister Varsen Fadel, niece Sandra Fadel, and nephews Edmund and Thomas Fadel.

She will be remembered as a woman for all seasons. She was gentle as an autumn breeze, strong as a winter storm, vibrant as the dawn of spring, and beautiful as a summer rose. That was Sema's special and magical gift from God.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 from 5 - 8 PM at M.J. Colucci & Son Niagara Funeral Chapel, where a prayer service will be held at 7:30 PM. Sema's Requiem Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 10:00 AM at St. Sarkis Armenian Church, 300 9th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 with inurnment in Gate of Heaven Mausoleum, Lewiston, NY to follow. Please assemble at church by 9:45 AM as services will begin promptly at 10:00 AM.

If desired, memorial offerings may be made to St. Sarkis Armenian Church, St. Hagop Armenian Church, the Levesque Institute at Niagara University or Heart, Love & Soul. Arrangements by M.J. Colucci & Son Niagara Funeral Chapel. Visit mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences.