YEREVAN. - The memorial service for renowned Armenian folk singer Ofelya Hambartsumyan took place in Yerevan’s St. Hovhannes church Wednesday. Her family members and relatives, as well as cultural, political and public figures attended the service.

“We feel sorrow; Ofelya Hambartsumyan was a legend, the queen of Armenian folk music. We have lost a great figure in the field of art,” Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan told journalists.

For his part, Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) Galust Sahakyan noted that Ofelya Hambartsumyan was one of those great people whose work is difficult to assess.

People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR, Ofelya Hambardzumyan, passed away Monday, aged 91.

Hambardzumyan was born in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, on January 9, 1925.

Ever since 1944, she was a soloist at the Ensemble of Folk Instruments of the Radio and Television of Armenia.

In 2011, Ofelya Hambardzumyan was awarded the Mesrob Mashtots Medal, in recognition of her great services rendered to the Armenian art of music.