GEORGANTAS, STELLA
BLANDFORD, MA (from The Republican,published on May 31) –Stella R. Georgantas of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida and Blandford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home on May 23. She was born on September 3, 1927, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her father, John T. Rousakis of AgioiTheodori, Crete, immigrated to the United States in the early part of the 20th century to work in the copper mines of Utah. AsimoHrisanthacopoulos, her mother, left Chora, Greece, as part of the Greek diaspora in the mid-1920s. The couple met, wed and raised five daughters; Mrs. Georgantas was the second eldest. She was educated at the High School of Commerce in Springfield, and upon graduating began working in the treasury department of Sears, Roebuck & Company. In 1952, Mrs. Georgantas met her husband, Charles T. Georgantas of Elliniko, Arcadia, Greece. The couple married the following year and settled first in Springfield and then in Blandford, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire foothills. They had a daughter, Margo, of Northampton, and a son, John, who lives in New York City. In 1960, Mrs. Georgantas used shares of Sears stock she had accumulated through her work to finance the purchase of a commercial property. Together with her husband, Mrs. Georgantas developed this business into a successful commercial and residential real estate ownership and management company that continued operating in Chicopee and Holyoke, Massachusetts, for 47 years. One of the first properties included a laundromat, so the couple eventually built a chain with six locations. Mr. and Mrs. Georgantas were vintage car enthusiasts and collectors, and were active members of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America, the Model T Ford Club of America and the Model A Ford Club of America. Mrs. Georgantas especially enjoyed tossing rose petals out of her antique car windows during parades. Her husband passed away in 1995. Mrs. Georgantas was baptized and wed at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Springfield, where she was a lifelong communicant. When she relocated to Fort Lauderdale in 2003, Mrs. Georgantas attended St.Demetrios Church, where she was a member of the Philoptochos Ladies Society and the Daughters of Penelope. She was widely loved and admired for her business savvy, warmth, kindness, dedication to her family, graciousness, hospitality and strength of character. Her family and friends will always remember the festive Easter celebrations at her home, and Mrs. Georgantas’s parties the weekend of the Blandford Fair were legendary. In addition to her children, Mrs. Georgantas leaves her sisters Penelope (John) Harbilas, Anne Thomas, Sophia (Emmanuel) Papadoconstantakis and Constance (James) Kouchalakos; Martha Dinopoulos, her mother’s sister, of Athens, Greece; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and godchildren in the United States and Greece. Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM to 11 AM on Saturday, June 2, at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 22 St. George Road, Springfield, Massachusetts, with funeral services beginning at 11 AM. Interment will immediately follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts. The family requests there be no flowers, and suggests donations be made in Mrs. Georgantas’s name to the White Church Preservation Fund, PO Box 35, Blandford, Massachusetts 01008-0035. St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels are handling arrangements.
KAFKOULAS, NICHOLAS
MANCHESTER, NH (from the Union Leader, published on May 8) – Nicholas V. Kafkoulas, 77, of Manchester, NH, died May 5, 2018, after a brief illness. Born in Vatsounia, Greece, on November 26, 1940, he was the son of Vasilios and Sophia Kafkoulas. He was raised in Greece before immigrating to the United States in 1966. Nicholas served in the Greek Army. In his early years, he was employed with several shoe manufacturing companies. Devoted to his faith, he was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Nicholas was an avid walker who could often be seen walking throughout the Queen City. Well-known for his calm demeanor, affable nature, and gentle ways, he will be deeply missed. Family members include three sons, Vasilios Kafkoulas of Manchester, Steve Kafkoulas of Manchester, and Philip Kafkoulas of Hooksett; three grandchildren; three sisters, Kalliopi Gekas of Manchester, Maria Palangas of Manchester, and Theodora Tsavalos of Greece; many nieces and nephews. SERVICES: A calling hour will be held Thursday from 9 to 10 AM in St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover Street, Manchester. The funeral service will follow at 10 AM in the Cathedral with the Rev. Michael Wilson officiating. Burial will take place in Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester. Memorial donations may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH 03104. The Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, Manchester, NH 03104 is in charge of the arrangements. For more information, please visit: www.connorhealy.com.
KALAMATIANOS, PETER
CHICAGO, IL (from the Chicago Tribune, published on May 17) – Peter Kalamatianos, age 83, born in Gythio, Peloponnese, Greece, passed away on Friday, May 11, 2018. Cherished son of the late Panagiotis and the late Athena Kalamatianos Beloved husband of Helen (nee Cosmakos); loving father of Athina, Kiki (Jim) Saltouros, Mary and Constantine; proud grandfather of Alexis, Michelle and Dimitri; dear brother of the late George and the late Eleni; fond uncle of many and their families. Family and friends will meet on Friday morning, May 18, 2018, for Visitation from 9:30 am – 10:00 am and Funeral service starting at 10:00 am at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 2350 E. Dempster Street in Des Plaines. Interment at Ridgewood Memorial Park. Kindly omit flowers; instead, Memorial donations may be made to St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. Arrangements by John G. Adinamis Funeral Directors, Ltd. For information 847-375-0095.
KALAPODAKIS,MICHAEL
NORTH BERGEN, NJ (from The Jersey Journal,published on May 30) –Michael S. Kalapodakis, 54, of North Bergen, NJ passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2018. Born in Chania, Crete, Greece he was a Lab Technician for Quest Diagnostics in Teterboro He also was a Navy Veteran. Beloved son of Chrysi (Stagourakis) and the late Stilianos. Dear brother of Antonia Earley and husband Robert and Mary Schwalm and husband Charles. Loving uncle of Michael, Christopher, Andrew and Lana. Visitation on Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral on Friday at 11am from the funeral home. A mass will be offered at 12 noon at the Ascension Greek Orthodox Church in Fairview. Interment at Fairview Cemetery. Vainieri Funeral Home 5923 Kennedy Blvd. North Bergen, NJ 07047 (201) 868-6555 www.vainierifuneralhome.com.
KORTESIS, HELEN
EAST LYME, CT (from The Day, published on May 10) – Helen Philip (Kiritsis) Kortesis, 87, of Niantic, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. She was born in New London, on Jan. 2, 1931, the daughter of Philip Theodore and Evdoxia (Eva) KurusisKititsis, originally from Epirus, Greece, and established residence in New London. A lifelong resident of New London, she relocated to Ahepa 250 in Niantic shortly after the passing of her beloved husband, Steve. She was married on Jan. 27, 1952 to Efstratios “Steve” K. Kortesis who passed away on Aug. 27, 2007. Helen was a graduate of the Williams Memorial Institute located on the grounds of Connecticut College. She lived her life through simple pleasures; cooking, chatting with friends, keeping in touch with her snowbird friends, snacking and spending time with her visitors. She had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. As a member of St. Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church, New London she was an active member of the choir, and their school of religious studies where she taught Sunday School for over 22 years. Helen was active with New London School PTA/PTO where she had been a recording secretary, corresponding secretary and a member of the nominating committee. She participated at the C.W. Edgerton School for field trips, school fairs and centennial programs, assisted teachers on school projects, worked with the librarians on bulletin boards at Harbor and New London Junior High School, corrected children’s work papers and assisted students with science projects. From 1975 to 1984 Helen was called upon to set up a program for non-English speaking, especially Greek children. She also worked tirelessly with several Spanish speaking students and with children from Cambodia and the Philippines and tutored at Harbor and Nathan Hale School. Helen always had time for her Alma Mater, WMI and was her class representative for many years, responsible for staying in touch with her classmates and writing classmate notes published in the WMI Ambassador. In recognition of her contributions she was awarded the Tribute to Loyalty Award from the WMI/Williams School. This award honors alumni who have exemplified loyalty and dedication to WMI/Williams School and whose service to the Alumni Association has fostered the traditions and ideals of the school. She is survived by her three sons, Constantine E. Kortesis and his wife, Grazina, of Warren, Mich., Nickolas E. Kortesis and his spouse, Cynthia, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and Philip E. Kortesis of Tuscon, Ariz.; a sister, Athena Susi; and a brother, Theodore Kiritsis and his wife, Claire; three grandchildren, Stephanie L., Alyssa C. and Nickolas E. Kortesis II; and three great-grandchildren, Douglas N. Miller, Evy V. Calcutti and Aaron H. Boice. Funeral services and burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London were private. Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London, assisted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church, 200 Hempstead St., New London, CT 06320. Please visit www.Byles.com to sign the guest book or to share a memory.
TOURNIDIS, JAMES
MANCHESTER, NH (from the Union Leader, published on May 18) – James A. Tournidis, 86, passed away peacefully at Catholic Medical Center on May 15, 2018 after a brief illness. Born May 18, 1931 in Edessa, Greece, he was son of the late Arthur and Virginia Tournidis. He enjoyed 55 years of marriage with his wife, Catherine. Raised in Greece, James moved to Canada as a young man before moving to Manchester in the early 1960s. James worked in many different fields over the years, but was best known as the owner of the Merrimack Restaurant, which he and his wife ran for twelve years. He later worked at Poor Boy’s restaurant in Londonderry. A devoted husband and father, James cherished time spent with his family. He leaves behind his wife, Catherine Tournidis of Manchester; his son, Arthur Tournidis of Manchester; his sister, Freda Peteff of Canada; his sisters-in-law, Shirley Leara of Ohio and VergaTournidis of Canada; nieces and nephews Vicki Ellis, Madelyn Schneider, Sharon Mertz, Robert and PanoTournidis, and Danny Peteff, all of Canada; niece and nephew Cassandra Ellis and Alex Leara of Ohio and nephew William Leara of Texas; as well as several great nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends. Services: Visitation will be on Sunday, May 20th from 5-8pm at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH. Funeral service will be on Monday, May 21st at 11:30am, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH. He will be laid to rest at Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in James’s memory to a charity of your choice. For directions or to leave a condolence message for the family, visit www.phaneuf.net.
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