Amalia Arvanetes

The Greeks of Chicago’s south suburbs lost one of their oldest and most beloved matriarchs on March 20, 2016 when Amalia Papanikolaou Arvanetes passed away at Alden Estates, Orland Park, IL at the age of 113. Amalia was born in the village of Anthohorion, Greece in 1903. She and her husband, Demetrios Arvanetes, raised six children, first in Thoknia, Greece, and then in South Chicago, where she immigrated in 1952. Yiayia Amalia, as she has been known by both her family and fans, loved being surrounded by her large family, and had a hand in raising all eleven of her grandchildren. The stronghold she had on her family was immeasurable, and her no-nonsense manner, dry sense of humor, and the stories that we can all recite by memory will be deeply missed. In addition to her family, Amalia also loved her church, Ss. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, and guided her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in its teachings. She enjoyed reading her Bible and visiting churches and monasteries both in the United States and in Greece. In the 1980s, she fulfilled one of her life-long dreams by taking a trip to the Holy Lands. When Amalia wasn’t traveling, she made her home with, and had the eventual loving and attentive care of, her son and daughter-in-law, John and Barbara Arvanetes, in Orland Park. During her free time, she enjoyed long walks, crocheted, and broke every weekday to watch “Wheel of Fortune.” The show did not have a more avid non-English speaking fan. She watched until the week she died. Amalia was preceded in death by her husband, Demetrios; two children, Katina Arvanetes and Ioanna Stavrianos; two sons-in-law, Triantaphyllos Kotsogiannis and Theofilos Stavrianos; and three infant great-grandchildren, Yvonne Catania, John Stavrianos and Cynthia Stavrianos. She is survived by four children: Vasiliki Kotsogiannis, John (Barbara) Arvanetes, Ifigenia (John) Sgouros, and Nicki (Nicholas) Papanikolaou, eleven grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 3:00 to 8:00 PM with the Trisagion Service at 7:00 PM at The Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home 11028 South Southwest Hwy (7700 west), Palos Hills, IL. Friends and family asked to meet Wednesday morning directly at Ss. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 11028 South Roberts Road Palos Hills, at 9:40 AM for the 10:00 AM Funeral service. Orrico Kourelis Funeral Services Inc. Directing; MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL! Interment Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Father Byron Koraes Student Assistance Fund (envelopes will be provided). For information 708-974-4410 or www. Orricofuneral.com