BOSTON – Thisvi Alexandrou, the dynamic woman of the island of Lesvos and also of the Greek-American Community of Boston, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 after a short illness at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
She was always smiling and had only good things to say about everybody. She is now on her last journey to be reunited with her beloved husband Stratos, who died four years ago.
She was born on September 4, 1927 in Mytilene, the capital of the island of Lesvos in Greece and was the daughter of the late Gabriel and Hariklia Hiotelli of Mytilene and sister of the late Stephanos Hiotellis of Athens.
She married the late Stratos (Efstratios) Alexandrou on June 10, 1956. Thisvi, her husband, and two sons immigrated to the United States in June of 1968.
While in Mytilini she was the owner of the most prominent bridal and baptismal store in the main market place of the town, where she was known and liked by all in the capital as well by people from villages throughout the island. She had dressed thousands of brides for their weddings and infants for their baptism with beautiful garments.
She was a talented woman, with ethos, goodness, philanthropic feelings and a deep faith in God and love for the cultural heritage of Hellenism. She was an avid reader of The National Herald and loved the Greek-American Community and her local parish of St. Nicholas in Lexington Massachusetts.
Speaking to The National Herald, her son Nikos Alexandrou said “my mother was 91 years old, she had a very good life and her death occurred quickly. She didn’t suffer a long illness. She suffered a minor heart attack on December 23 and recuperated, but on January 19 she suffered a second one and since then she started to weaken gradually and finally she passed away.”
He also said, “she died very peacefully and until the very last minute she was alert. It was the best ending she could have.”
When we asked him what stands out the most for him about his mother, he said, “her dynamism.”
With her late husband Stratos she opened a Dunkin Donuts, then they entered the real estate business, and in 1970 they opened a Burger King fast food restaurant.
The late Thisvi Alexandrou was the beloved wife of the late Stratos (Efstratios) Alexandrou. Loving mother of Nikos Alexandrou and his wife MariBeth of Lexington, MA and Gabriel Alexandrou and his wife Maryanne of Plattsburgh, NY. She was the deeply-loved grandmother of Anna, Rachel, Yvette, and Sophia Alexandrou and is survived by many relatives in the United States, Greece, France, and Australia.
In lieu of flowers friends are asked to consider a donation in Thisvi’s memory to the Hellenic Society of Maine which works with, and provides assistance to, the city of Mytilene. The address is the Hellenic Society of Maine, P.O. Box 8007, Portland, ME 04104 – https://hellenicsocietyofmaine.org.
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