Jennie B. Maurides (nee Demos) beloved wife of Demetrios G. Maurides, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2023 in Glenview, IL at the age of 98.
Coming from humble beginnings, Jennie strongly believed in striving for more in life. Her immediate and extended family were very important to her. She was devoted to her husband, four children, and the generations that followed.
Jennie’s parents were both from small villages in the mountains of Arcadia in the central Peloponnese and arrived in the US as immigrants with limited formal education in the early 20th century. Her father, James Demos (Demos Demopoulos) entered the US before WWI and gained citizenship enlisting as an American soldier. About 10 years later, her mother (Panagiota Demos – nee Kartsounis) and sister arrived, and the family settled in Hutchinson Kansas, where Jennie was born in 1924. Her father established a restaurant and small hotel directly across from the town’s train station. However, life in the American west was not easy for Greek immigrants in that era, and due to societal pressures and epic local floods, the family moved to Chicago when Jennie was entering her grade school years.
Sadly, her mother’s health problems worsened in Chicago, requiring extensive hospital stays, eventually leading to an early passing when Jennie was still a little girl of less than nine years old. However, Jennie was fortunate to have her older sister Melia, who provided her much needed love and support at home. Jennie attended primary and secondary schools on the north side of Chicago, graduating from Lucy Flower High School, a technical school for girls.
After high school, Jennie worked at her brother-in-law’s grocery store on the near west side of Chicago and later at Peoples Gas. It was while working there after WWII that she met her future husband, Demetrios “Jim” Maurides, who had recently returned as a US Air Force officer, following the end of the war. They had four children, first living in the area near St. Demetrios and later moving to the northern suburbs of Morton Grove and Glenview, contributing to the establishment of Sts Peter & Paul.
Among the many activities Jennie enjoyed throughout her life were family camping trips, gardening, reading and cooking. She appreciated her many enduring friendships and believed in education and life-long learning.
Jennie was involved as a leader in Scouts, and taught Sunday school first at Saint Demetrios Church, (Chicago) then at Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church (Glenview) where she was a member from the beginnings of the congregation. She worked outside the home most of her life, including 20+ years with special needs students at Maine East High School before she retired in 1989. She also worked a second job at the North Shore Blood Bank for more than 10 years, coordinating much needed blood donations in the local community.
Jennie was preceded in death by her parents James and Panayiota Demos, her beloved husband Demetrios G. Maurides, and her dear sister Melia (George) Papantonatos. Jennie is survived by her loving: Children – Ellani (Steve Bastien), George (Lee Ann Maurides), Pamela (Liam Antrim) and Demetrios (Aspasia Dimizas). Grandchildren – Jennifer Abate-O’Dell, Alex Abate, Amanda Coffos (nee Maurides), Zachary Maurides, Veselin Antrim, Kai Antrim, Myrto Maurides and Penelope Maurides. Great-grandchildren – Jack & James O’Dell, Alex, Nicholas & Anthony Abate, Evelyn, George (Mack), Charlotte & Ford Coffos, Caroline & George Maurides, and Makenna Stuck-Antrim.
Visitation Wednesday, May 10, 2023, from 10:00 AM until time of Funeral Service 10:30 AM at Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 1401 Wagner Road, Glenview, IL, 60025. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jennie’s name to Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church or Greek American Rehabilitation Center would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements by Memory Eternal Funeral Directors, Ltd. 847-375-0095.
May her memory be eternal.