Mary Koula Athanasakes' Obituary
Mary Koula Athanasakes, 89, of Ocean Ridge, Florida, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2019, surrounded by her family and loved ones. Mary is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and was preceded in death by her loving husband Theodore (“Ted”) J. Athanasakes and their son Demetrios Athanasakes.
In 1953, Mary married the love of her life, Ted J. Athanasakes. Mary and Ted were married for 64 blissful years, traveled the world together and touched the lives of so many. Mary held multiple roles throughout her life – dental hygienist, floral designer, and event planner, planning countless events for foreign dignitaries and members of the Department of the Navy, Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center, where Ted was the Division Manager.
When she wasn’t working in these roles, Mary dedicated her time to her beloved church, Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, West Palm Beach, Florida. One of the greatest gifts that Mary gave to the church was her love of dance and music. In 1986, she became an advisor to Saint Catherine’s Heart of Greece dance group. She contributed so much to the dance group: she was the costume director, sourcing and ordering costumes from various regions of Greece, many times designing and sewing them herself, junior dance director, teaching the youngest of children dance, and mentor. She traveled with and chaperoned the dancers on countless performances throughout the United States, encouraging the youth to stay connected with the Greek Orthodox Christian faith and to keep the Greek culture alive. She was a dedicated, enthusiastic, caring role model for the children of Saint Catherine’s and always offered support, encouragement, and fun. She was truly the mother of the youth of Saint Catherine’s.
Mary also was a member of the Saint Catherine Philoptochos Society which is devoted to helping those in need and spreading the love of the Orthodox faith. She held the role of Philoptochos President for several terms, spent Sundays serving coffee and dessert to fellow parishioners during church coffee hour and attended and participated in various philanthropic events throughout the years to serve those in need.
She was an Archangel Michael Honoree honored by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta for her true Orthodox Christian way of life by her deep faith, commitment, dedication and service to the Church. She will be remembered for her outstanding service to the Church and the community as a whole and as a well-known, well-respected leader of the Orthodox Christian Community.
Mary touched the lives of many people; she was a woman of great kindness and affection. She always put others first before herself. Mary was so many things to so many people - a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, Godmother, and friend who will be remembered for her endless kindness, loving heart and thoughtful manner. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 110 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, where a Trisagion will be held.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 110 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, the Rev. Andrew Maginas celebrant.
The entombment will follow at Palm Beach Memorial Mausoleum, 3691 Seacrest Boulevard, Lantana, FL 33462. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you send a donation or gift in Mary’s honor to Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church.
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