Maria “Mary” Kolovos

Maria Kolovos, beloved wife, and mother of two passed away on Saturday, March 26 2022, in her home, surrounded by her husband, children and so much love.

Born in the village of Floria, a settlement of Kandanos in Chania, Crete, Maria was raised by her loving parents Emmanouil and Evangelia Patelakis in Piraeus, the port city in Athens, Greece.

She immigrated to Montreal, Canada where she met and later married her husband Demetrios. Maria and Demetri made their way to Florida, where they worked for many years, owned their own businesses and started a family. They continued that same work ethic upon arriving in Greenville, where they owned and operated restaurants and became beloved members of their community.

Maria dedicated her life to her family, tirelessly making sure her children were always the priority. Loving them fiercely, protecting them, providing for them the opportunities to become happy in their lives, successful in their education and careers, and ultimately have families of their own to continue those values grounded in love and affection.

Maria’s grandchildren were, in her words, her whole world. She always credited her grandchildren as her ultimate cure, as her strength and the reason she was so determined to continue fighting. She spoiled them endlessly, but generosity was in her bones, always giving, always providing what she could whenever she could.

A quick-witted remark and mischievous glance, even in the most difficult moments, was common. Maria’s honesty never allowed for one to question where they stood with her and her strong sense of right and wrong was always on display. But ultimately, her desire to feed you trumped all, it’s what made her happy, making you happy with what she could make.

Maria is lovingly survived by her husband of 42 years, Demetri, who cared for her around the clock, never leaving her side; two precious children, her son, Apostolis Kolovos (Lindsay), and her daughter, Evangelia Theodore (Bo); her 5 beautiful grandchildren, Katherine Helene Kolovos, Christopher Demetrios Kolovos, Maria Zoe Theodore, Charles John Theodore, and Olympia Katerina Theodore. Her brothers Ioannis Patelakis and Yiorgos Patelakis (Evangelia), her nieces and nephews, both in Florida and Greece, her Koumbari, all of whom she loved, and her loving cousins Petro and Pota Bitzanakis, who were a constant source of love and strength.

In addition to her parents, Maria, was predeceased her sister-in-law, Sophia Patelakis.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. with a Trisagion to be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Flowers for the family may be sent to St. George Greek Orthodox Church.

For those unavailable to be present for the service, live streaming will be available by visiting www.stgeorgegreenville.org and selecting the Livestream option.

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