KAFKES, TOM
CHICAGO, IL (from the Chicago Tribune, published on Dec. 20) – Tom (Anastasios) Kafkes, age 91, passed away on December 14, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. Born September 1, 1927, to Angelo and Vassiliki Kafkes, nee Kalomaras, in Filiatra, Greece. Beloved husband of Emily Kafkes, nee Karavites, for 62 years. Loving father of Bessie (James) Hatzis, George (Anastasia) Kafkes, and Angelo (Lamprini) Kafkes. Proud grandfather of George Hatzis, Thomas Hatzis, Thomas (Alison) Kafkes, Elyse (Ben) Cox, Emily Kafkes, Emily Kafkes, and Julia Kafkes. Brother of the late Gregory (the late Efstathia) Kafkes, Panayioti (Eleni) Kafkis, and Theofilos (the late Evangelia) Kafkes. Brother-in-law of the late Yianni (the late Meropi) Karavites, the late Panayioti Karavites, and the late George Karavites. Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation was on December 21 at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home 6150 N Cicero Ave, Chicago. Family and friends will met Saturday morning at St. George Greek Orthodox Church 2701 N. Sheffield Ave Chicago, IL for funeral service. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Memorial donations to St. George Greek Orthodox Church or to Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre www.greekamericancare.org. Arrangements by John G. Adinamis Funeral Director, Ltd. For more information please call 773-736-3833.
KAKAVETSIS, HARILAOS
NILES, IL (from the Chicago Tribune, published on Dec. 18) – Harilaos Kakavetsis, 81, born in Monopoli, Kastoria, Greece; Beloved husband of Lambrini (nee Souikas); Devoted father of Bill (Colleen) and Genie (Tim) Menzia; Cherished grandfather of Austin, Olivia, Ethan and Eve; Loving brother of Sotirios (Konstandina), Konstandina (the late Evangelos) Pavlidis and the late Petros and Aristides; Dearest brother-in-law of Nick Souikas and the late Sam (Cossette) Souikas; Dear uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation was on December 18 at Colonial Wojciechowski Funeral Home 8025 W. Golf Rd. Niles, IL. Friends and relatives are met Wednesday morning at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church 7373 N. Caldwell Ave. Niles, IL. for the Funeral Service. Interment followed at Elmwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Nicholas M. Pishos Funeral Director, Ltd., Info: 847-581-0536.
MENDROS, JAMES
KITTERY, ME (from the Journal Tribune on Dec. 15) – James G. Mendros, 85, of Kittery, passed away late Wednesday evening on Dec. 12, 2018, at Durgin Pines in Kittery, with his family by his side. He was born in Biddeford on Feb. 18, 1933, a son of George P. and Pota G. (Rizeakos) Mendros. He graduated from Thornton Academy, Class of 1951, and also attended University of Maine Orono. James served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He married his wife Nikki on Feb. 18, 1968 in Greece. Earlier, James was employed in the family bottling distribution business for several years. Later, he was employed by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for over 30 years. James loved his family and the time they spent together. He especially enjoyed being with his grandson Jacob. James had a strong faith and was associated with St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saco. He was predeceased by nine siblings, Peter, Roy, John, Thomas, Harry, Chris, Toni, Katherine and Vassie. He is survived by: his wife of 50 years, Nikoleta “Nikki” (Anastasakos) Mendros of Kittery; two sons, George J. Mendros of Boston and Peter J. Mendros and his wife Ondrea of Newington, New Hampshire; grandson, Jacob and his girlfriend, Rebekah of Boston; sister Dorothy Pappavasiliou and her husband, George; and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours and Trisagion prayers were at the Cote Funeral Home Chapel, 87 James St., Saco. The funeral Service was held at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 186 Bradley St. in Saco. Burial will follow in St. Demetrios Hellenic Orthodox Cemetery in Biddeford. To view James’ memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com.
PERDIKAKIS, TSAMPIKA
WETHERSFIELD, CT (from The Hartford Courant, published on Dec. 20) – Tsampika Perdikakis, 96, of Avon, loving widow of Vasilios Perdikakis, passed away on December 19, 2018. She was born on February 11, 1922 in Rhodes, Greece, daughter of the late Eftathios and Martha (Itsou) Loulas. Tsampika emigrated to the US in 1962. She attended St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hartford. Tsampika leaves behind her two sons, Sam Perdikakis and Steve Perdikakis, and her two daughters Martha Androulidakis and Sylvia Diakomanolis and her husband John. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Athena Androulidakis, Patty Androulidakis and her husband Victor Saverino, Steve Diakomanolis and his wife Janice Mazzota, Nectaria Diakomanolis, Lisa Perdikakis and William Perdikakis. She also leaves her eight great-grandchildren Ariana Androulidakis, Olivia Androulidakis, Hunter Saverino, Sky Saverino-Andrews, Isabella Diakomanolis, Victoria Diakomanolis, Argiro Stergakis and Filia Stergakis.The funeral service was held on Saturday, December 22 at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 433 Fairfield Ave., Hartford, CT 06114. Burial followed in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Calling hours were at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield. Contributions in her memory may be made to the church. Please visit www.dillonbaxter.com to share a memory with the family.
POLLUTRO, IRENE
STATEN ISLAND, NY (from the Staten Island Advance, published on Dec. 17) – Irene Pollutro, 101 Accomplished cook, loving family matriarch, of West Brighton. Irene Pollutro (nee Koutsikeas), longtime West Brighton resident, passed away on Dec. 17, 2018, at Staten Island University Hospital North. Mrs. Pollutro, the daughter of Greek immigrants, Peter and Christina, was born in Manhattan and brought to Staten Island as a young girl with her sister, Betty. The family first settled in Tompkinsville and later New Brighton. Irene attended P.S. 16 and graduated from Curtis High School in 1937. During and after World War ll, Irene worked at the Bethlehem Steel Plant in Mariners Harbor and often recalled walking home to New Brighton during the famous blizzard of 1947. In 1948, Irene married the love of her life, Antonio (“Chief”), an engineer in the Merchant Marine. The couple settled in West Brighton, where together they raised their two daughters, Christine Naitove (Matthew) and Deanne Frew (Bill). Irene returned to the workforce in 1972 as an emergency room admitting clerk at the former St. Vincent’s Hospital, now RUMC. Her husband worked as an engineer for the hospital as well, and they commuted to work together until they retired in 1980. The couple traveled to Europe extensively, visiting Spain, Italy, Greece, and Croatia. They traveled to Bucks County, Pa., nicknamed “God’s Country,” where they owned a vacation home. The couple spent winters vacationing on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Irene was an accomplished cook of Greek specialties and was an active member of the former Castle Manor Garden Club, which was evident in the profusion of perennial plants and flowers around her home. Attributing her longevity to genetics, a healthy lifestyle and above all, a piece of chocolate cake every day – she was a firm believer in starting and finishing her day with dessert. Along with her daughters and sons-in-law, Irene is survived by seven nieces, two nephews, two stepgrandchildren, a great-granddaughter, many adoring grandnieces, and one grandnephew. Viewing was at Harmon Funeral Home. The funeral was at Holy Rosary Church. Harmon Funeral Home 571 Forest Ave. Staten Island, NY 10310, 718-442-5056.
STRAVELAKIS, KATHERINE
WORTHINGTON, OH (from The Columbus Dispatch, published on Dec. 8) – Katherine Stravelakis, 1921-2018. Katherine K. Stravelakis, age 97, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2018 in San Diego, CA. Preceded in death by husband Konstantinos
Stravelakis, son George K. Stravelakis, brother Nicholas G. Mavromatis and sister Helen I. Manos. For over 55 years, she was an active member of the Columbus, Ohio “Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral,” member of the Cathedral Audit Committee, past Board member Ladies Philoptochos Society, past Sunday School teacher, and member of the Annunciation Cathedral Choir, 50 Plus Club, Daughters of Penelope Chapter #15, Ohio Eastern Star #287, and the Clintonville Woman’s Club, since 1965, where she was Chairperson of Dollars and Sense Investment Group. Mrs. Stravelakis established a graduate school academic scholarship in her husband’s honor. The K.N. Stravelakis Family Scholarship Fund established to help Cathedral students of Greek descent in their pursuit of post-graduate studies. She also was a generous contributor of properties to the Habitat for Humanity. Survived by her devoted children: son, (retired) Colonel Nicholas K. (Michele) Stravelakis of Peachtree City, GA; daughter, Maria Anna (Dr. Peter) McDade of San Diego, CA.; her cherished grandchildren, Jonathan and Anthony (Claire) Stravelakis, Kostas and Lukas McDade; great-granddaughters, Ava, Harper, and Quinn Stravelakis; great-grandson, Isaac Stravelakis; and her always caring nieces and nephews, Shelly, Kally, Emanuel, Jack; cousins in the U.S. and in Greece. Katherine regularly spent winters in San Diego, CA and permanently relocated there in 2002. As a member of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff-By-The-Sea, CA, she joined the Prime Timers Club, Philoptochos Society and Daughters of Penelope. Friends called at Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High St., Worthington. Rev. Dimetrios Gardikes officiated in funeral services at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 17. Interment Union Cemetery. Contributions in Katherine’s memory may be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 N. High St., Cols., OH 43215 or to the K.N. Stravelakis Family Scholarship Fund, c/o The Columbus Foundation, 1234 East Broad Street, Cols., OH 43205. May her memory be eternal. Eonia i mnimi tis. To leave a condolence for the family please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com.
TRIANTAFYLLOU, PARASKEVI
UPPER ST. CLAIRE, PA (from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, published on Dec. 19) – Parasevi “Vicky” Traintafyllou passed away peacefully December 15, 2018, in her home in Upper St. Clair with her family by her side. She was 87 years old and lived a full life following the traditions and culture of the Greek Orthodox Church. Her last name in translation means “thirty leaves of roses,” and it suited her warm personality. She was born on the island of Spetses, and at the age of 15 she left to live in Athens. The last 24 years of her life were divided between Greece and Pittsburgh; she spent summers in Athens and winters in Pittsburgh. In 2010, she moved to Pittsburgh permanently to live with her children, Costi and Magdalini. Vicky had a lovely voice and she would entertain at events with friends and family. In her younger days, Mrs. Triantafyllou worked for Shell Oil Company and was part of the administrative staff of the legal department. A high school graduate and a life-long learner, she had a superior knowledge of finances and could resolve all problems presented to her. Mrs. Triantafyllou is survived by her two children, Costi and Magdalini; a son-in-law, George Paleos; two grandsons, Yanni and Constantinos; and two sisters, Beba and Catherine. She instilled in her children and grandchildren a love for Greek customs and traditions and taught them to “always live an honest life.”
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