Katerina Stavros

Katerina D. Stavros (Michalopoulou) Traverse City Record-Eagle TRAVERSE CITY — Katerina D. Stavros (Αικατερίνη Μιχαλοπόυλου Σταύρου), 69, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2014, at Munson Medical Center after a short illness. Katerina or “Kaiti” (her native Greek nickname) was born on May 4, 1945, in Athens, Greece, under the Acropolis, the daughter of Athanasios and Theope Michalopoulos. Katerina graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School, Athens, in 1963, where she learned eight languages. She reveled in her family and friends and the social scene in her community in Athens in the 1960s. Katerina was an excellent sales clerk for a well-known Greek toy company in Athens. In 1969, her sister introduced her to a visiting Greek American named Dennis C. Stavros, and they married in Athens in 1972 and moved to Traverse City, Dennis’s childhood vacation spot. They were married for 42 years at the time of Katerina’s death. Dennis and Katerina soon opened a Greek imports retail store in the old Arcade of shops in downtown Traverse City in the 70s. Katerina was the consummate Greek cook, homemaker, wife, hostess, and doting mother to two daughters, Elan Athanasia (David) S. Nichols and Christina Theope Stavros, who survive her. She decorated her home like a Victorian mansion and made her daughters’ school lunches from scratch every day, often delivering them herself and having their consumption monitored. For many years, Katerina worked as a persuasive, successful saleswoman in stores ranging from J.C. Penney to Talbots in Traverse City. She was called upon several times by the community to educate others about Greek culture, including demonstrating the Greek language and cooking. She gave school presentations on these subjects and was interviewed for publications. Katerina was raised by her family and culture to be a loving and hospitable friend and neighbor who threw terrific parties and knew the value of a handwritten note. Katerina was very proud of her Greek heritage and connected with the fledgling Greek communities in Escanaba, Sault Ste. Marie, and Traverse City. Arni (Roast Lamb), Lemon roasted potatoes, Pastitso (Greek lasagna), Spanakopita (Spinach pie), and of course baklava were some of her specialty dishes, which she cooked for her family and countless friends, acquaintances, and others in the area. In 1999, she was honored to become an American citizen, adding to her Greek citizenship, which she maintained. She remarked that Lake Michigan was almost as beautiful as the Mediterranean Sea, and she loved visiting every small and large lake area in the state. The Greek Orthodox Christian faith was central to Katerina’s life, and she participated in services held by the traveling Greek Orthodox priests ministering to communities in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. In lieu of regular Orthodox services, she was also an active churchgoer and used her beautiful voice in choirs in churches in Traverse City over many years, including Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Faith Reformed Church. In 1999, she was a founding member of what is now Archangel Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church in Traverse City, the only Orthodox Church in Northern Lower Michigan. During the Church’s existence, Katerina sang in the choir, joined the Philoptochos society, and assisted in holding Greek bake sales and the annual Taste of Greece dinner, including just before her death. Katerina loved traveling and seeing the entire country and Canada by car over her lifetime, and especially enjoyed regularly visiting the South, where she connected with antebellum history. She was an avid reader and was enthralled with her first grandson, son of Elan and David, Giorgios Konstantinos Nichols. Katerina was a fixture in downtown Traverse City continuing in recent years, and could often be seen walking down Front Street and browsing in Horizon Book Store. She adored people-watching and had an uncanny ability to strike up conversations with strangers and find common ground. Anyone who met her knew she was colorful, kind, passionate, and opinionated. Survivors include her husband Dennis, her daughters Elan and Christina, her grandson Giorgios, her sister Androniki Hines (Jimmie) of California, her sister Kalliroi Patousas Butler of Athens, her brother Lakis Michalopoulos of London, England, her dear nephews and nieces, Yiannis Panou (Evangelia) of Athens, her goddaughter and namesake Caterina Hines of California, Roy Hines of California, her niece Marina Patousas in Athens, her dear cousins and koumbaroi (wedding sponsors) Theodosis and Eleni Kitsos of London, other cousins, grandnieces, and her godson Dominic MacNaughton. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Angeliki who died at birth, her precious sister Lambrini Panou in Athens, and two of her brothers-in-law, and many other relatives. Please join us in praying for the soul of Katerina, Wednesday, July 2, at a Trisagion (Memorial) Service at 5 p.m. at Archangel Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church in Traverse City. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. The Orthodox Christian Funeral Service, Burial, and Makaria Luncheon will be Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City. Funeral Arrangements by Reynolds-Jonkoff Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be sent to Archangel Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund (P.O. Box 6350, Traverse City, MI 49686). Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη, Aionia i mnimi, May her memory be eternal. Ο Θεός να την αναπαύσει. Christ is Risen.

Katerina Stavros

May 4, 1945 - June 29, 2014