Chookasian was born in Chicago , the youngest of three children to immigrants from Armenia . Her family had immigrated to the United States shortly after the Armenian Genocide of 1915 which claimed the lives of two of Chookasian 's grandparents and several members of her extended family . Chookasian 's first language was Armenian , as her parents spoke that language in the home . She only became proficient speaking English through attending school as a child
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Lili Chookasian