Helene Patitsas

Helene Patitsas, 74, of Columbus Ohio passed from this earthly life to eternal life on Oct. 2, 2011. Helene fell asleep in the Lord surrounded by family after a long struggle with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter George Stamos and Mary Drevas Stamos, and her brother, George Peter Stamos. Helene is survived by her husband of 54 years, George Patitsas, her children Father Doctor Christos (Katina) of Huntingdon, PA., Peter (Effie) of Upper Arlington, Father Philemon (Maria) of Charlotte, NC, Father Paul (Katerina) of Auckland, New Zealand, Maria (Constantine) Kayafas of Wheeling, WV and Professor Timothy of Boston, Mass. She is also survived by her sisters Theodora (John) Halliday of Amelia Island, FL. and Calliope (Anthony) Makridis of Brooklyn, NY and Georgia Stamos of Brooklyn, NY, brother-in-law Spyros Patitsas of Athens, Greece, as well as 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was born Helene Stamos on April 30, 1937 in New York, NY. Helene graduated from Public School 154 in Brooklyn and Prospect Heights High School in Brooklyn in 1954 and received her B.A. in Education from Kent State University in 1991. Helene worked at the American Bible Society in New York for six years and at Kent State University for 23 years. Helene was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron for more than 40 years, where she was the director of the Greek Dance Group for 20 years, president of the PTO, GOYA advisor, a member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society, a Sunday school teacher, proud member of the sewing club and many other organizations. During the last 11 years, Helene was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus, sometimes putting on puppet shows for the children at the Cathedral. Helene was proud that her children shared her love for the Greek Orthodox Faith and they serve the church - three as Greek Orthodox Priests, one as Professor of Ethics at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, one as Sunday School director and director of the Greek Dance Group, and one as a parish council member and Greek teacher. The family is very grateful to Fr. Panteleimon Maillis for being at Helene's side continually during the last nine months and the love and support ofthe Annunciation communities in Columbus and Akron. Helene is especially grateful to her husband George for lovingly taking care of her and being by her side throughout her illness. Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 6, 2011 at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 42315 where friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to service Thursday. Trisagion Service 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Burial Resurrection Cemetery. The family requests that donations in Helene's name be made to Holy Cross School of Theology Senior Pilgrimage to Greece, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445 or St. Theodore House, 449 Portland Way South, Galion, OH 44833.

Helene Patitsas

October 2, 2011