 Cholakian was lost to cancer in February 1996.Composer Andrew Waggoner dedicated his Symphony No.2 to Anna Cholakian's memory, indicating that the third movement echoed, among other things "an old Armenian song beloved of Anna and her father, “Hokis Murmur (My Soul is Sad).” Composer David Lang also wrote a piece in memory of Cholakian, 'Cello', as part of his piano works series, "memory pieces."