1933
2017
Sophia Tassaras of Chicago, Illinois was proud of her Greek roots and her life long work as a teacher. Born in 1933 in Florina, Greece, she lived with her parents, George Hassopoulos and Hryssoula Papastergiou, and two sisters, Eftichia and Rena. After finishing high school, she moved to Munich, Germany where she studied psychology.
She immigrated to America in 1967. She lived in Atlanta with her sister, Eftichia, and her husband, Dr. Allen Macris, and their children until 1973 when she married Bill Tassaras and moved north. They bought a unique contemporary ranch style home in River Forest a suburb of Chicago. Just a few 100 yards from the Desplaines River, her yard was a lush garden full of flowers, trees and wild life. Her love of animals and cooking led her to baking casseroles for raccoons and the occasional opossum. She would bake pastitsio and baklava for parties with friends or the new girl at the bank or pharmacy. She was on a first name basis with the postman and the grocery clerk. She was well known and well loved.
Although Sophia traveled to many places and enjoyed learning about the art and culture of other countries; Chicago was the city she knew and loved best. She was proud of it's broad streets that ran from downtown and Lake Shore Drive all the way out to the suburbs in a grid pattern which was easy to learn and navigate. She loved music and singing and dancing especially Greek style. As a young girl she learned to play the accordion.
Sophia had a great sense of humor. She loved to laugh and make those around her happy, comfortable, welcomed and loved. Always a step ahead, she didn't sugar coat the truth. She was unafraid to ask the questions we all wanted to know. "And did you kiss her and did she kiss you back?" Selfless and considerate, she usually put the needs of others before her own. Always generous with her time and money, she loved to bestow gifts on friends and family.
Raised during the Great War and before women's rights, she overcame many obstacles to become successful, highly educated and well read. She read the great writers and your coffee cup equally well.
Kind, generous and strong willed, she was very independent and opinionated. She was a leader in Hellenic studies; she taught the Greek language and a love of its culture and philosophy.
Sophia is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Eftichia and Allen Macris of Atlanta; her American nieces and nephews Crystallenia Vatzakas, Rhena Bernick, Michael Macris, Demetrios Macris and Maria Macris and her Greek nieces Jenny Axiotis and Liana Tsakiri. She was predeceased by her beloved sister Rena Tsakiri.
For the last three years she was lovingly nursed by her niece Crystallenia who cared for her through the rigors of Parkinson's and congestive heart failure.
Loved by many, Big Sophia, she was Thea from Chicago and we will all miss her. May her Memory Be Eternal.
A visitation and Trisagion will be held Friday, June 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mount Vernon Hwy. NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. The funeral will be held on June 17, 2017 at 12:30 pm at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church of Marietta, Georgia on Trickum Road, followed by a graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery.
Flowers are welcomed or memorials may be made for the iconography of The Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church of Marietta, GA.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Sandy Springs Chapel.
1 Entry
June 14, 2017
The death of a loved one is so devasting and not always to get through.May the God of comfort strengthen you all during this difficult time and may you find comfort through his son Jesus Christ words found in John 6:40.
Kiki
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