Panagiota P Paraskis

PANAGIOTA P PARASKIS (nee Tsimbidis), born 1923 in Paleohorion, Kynourias, Arcadia, Greece. Beloved wife of the late George, loving mother to Maria Kalantzis, Peter (Mary) Paraskis, cherished grandmother to Nicholas Kalantzis, Penny (Jim) Angelo, and Constantine Paraskis. Preceded in death by her parents Panagioti and Rebecca. Dear sister to Lee (Art) Tsekeris, and preceded in death by other siblings; Angeliki, Nicholas (late Areti), Dimitri, Kosta (late Fotini and late Mareka), Haralambos (late Alexandra), Metaxia (late Elias) Tambourlos, Maria (late Stylianos) Lantzakis, and Georgia (late Panagioti) Nikolopoulos. Aunt to many nieces and nephews here in America and in Greece.

Panagiota came to this country in 1950 with her husband George, after having been married in Athens, Greece. George came to America as a very young boy in the early 1900’s to find work and to help his family back in Greece. He stayed in America working hard, sending money back home, and eventually opened up a small soda shop and candy store in Chicago. Being the owner of this small shop made it difficult to go back home to Greece to visit his family. Eventually though, after many years of working hard, he did go back to Greece and while there he met and married Panagiota and together they returned to America to begin their life together.

They had two children, Maria and Peter, but after only 6 years of marriage George passed away from a heart attack. This left Panagiota to raise their two children on her own, in a country where she did not know the language and with her immediate family back in Greece. But she did have her sister Lee here by her side, and her fathers’ brother and his family here for occasional guidance. Even though this must have been overwhelming to her at the time, she decided to stay here in order for her children to have better opportunities for their futures.

Panagiota had gone back to Greece several times to visit family, and also fulfilled a desire to visit the Holy Land with a group from St. Spyridon Church. Was a member of the Philoptochos at St Nicholas, St Constantine & Helen and St Spyridon Churches where she volunteered baking pastries for the church festivals. Her passion was cooking and baking for her family and friends. Panagiota liked working in her garden every summer planting multiple pots of brightly colored flowers. She worked at Nabisco Baking Co., where she retired as a machine operator after 27 years of service, there she developed friendships with many people. She really loved that job!!!

Family and friends will meet Friday, December 3 at St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church 12300 S Ridgeland, Palos Heights, IL for visitation from 10:00 am until time of funeral service at 10:30 am. Due to a surge in Covid-19 variants, masks will be mandatory. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers. Memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Organization (alz.org) or St Spyridon Philoptochos would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to MEMORY ETERNAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS, LTD. (formerly JOHN G ADINAMIS FUNERAL DIRECTORS, LTD.) (847)375-0095. “May Her Memory Be Eternal and a Blessing”