Athena Liatsis Xarras

 

 

Athena Xarras Liatsis

 

The funeral will be held Tuesday, April 25, 2017  from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg with a Mass at 11 am in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1319 Main St., Fitchburg.  Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery.  Calling hours are Monday from 4-7 pm. Donations may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1319 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA, 01420 or Health Alliance Hospice 60 Hospital Rd.,  Leominster, MA 01453.

 



 

 

Athena Xarras Liatsis

FITCHBURG- Athena “Tina” Xarras Liatsis, 92, passed away on April 21 in the home that she lived in for more than 65 years. Born in Fitchburg on November 22, 1924, to loving parents Harry and Eftehia Xarras, “Dolly” as she was called as a child was the oldest daughter in a family of 10 children. She played a vital role in a Greek household as a sister, caretaker to her many siblings. She put her high school education on hold to assist with her brothers and sisters college pursuits. Following a three month courtship, Athena married the love of her life John Liatsis and celebrated 51 years of marriage in 1997. John pre-deceased her in 1997.

She worked hard her entire life raising siblings, sons, a daughter, and grandchildren. Her life was a history of hard work as a wife, mother and business woman. She had worked at the Comfort Slipper, Foster Grant, Grand View Country Club, Orin’s Restaurant, and the family owned Buttercup Hill Tea Room. She owned and operated Tina’s Diner in Clinton, and she and her husband owned Atlas Realty, a property sales and management company. It was not all business with Tina. Over the years she shared a wonderful and personal relationship with all of her tenants.

Holidays at her home were a festive time of Greek entertainment full of family and friends. Athena was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and received a most prestigious Clergy Laity Award from the Metropolitan of Boston. She was a member and President of the Elpis Ladies Society.

Athena enjoyed traveling. She accompanied John’s band the “Meraklides”, a Greek American orchestra in east coast venues from Maine to Florida and west to Chicago. Her trips to Greece and Albania as entertaining as family summers on Cape Cod.

Tina is survived by her four children. Daughter Joanne Liatsis Donnelly and her husband Thomas of Fitchburg. Sons Elias of North Falmouth, Craig and his partner Jamie McCann of Nashua, NH, and Fred and his wife Stephanie of Lunenburg. Yiayia leaves her loving grandchildren Michael, John and Justin Liatsis, Athena Bierfeldt, Corey, Shane, Alexis, and Noel Donnelly, and Ashlee, Amanda, Alicia and Austin Flagg. Great grandchildren Milana and Iliana Liatsis, Jack Bierfeldt, and Christiana, Dimitri, Kaleigh, and Delaney Donnelly.

Surviving siblings include Leo and his wife Carmela Xarras of Leominster, Vaselecke “Bessie” Xarras and Alexandra Pappas of Fitchburg, and Margarita Plagakis and her husband Konstantine of Holyoke. Also her brother-in-law Christos Liatsis and his wife Virginia of Needham.

She was pre-deceased by brothers John, Fortes, Van, James and Peter.

The family is most grateful to Mary Sweeney, Vaia Chrysikou, and Kathleen Petrullo, the staff at Health Alliance and Health Alliance Hospice for their wonderful care in the final weeks of a wonderful life.

 

 

Athena Xarras Liatsis

FITCHBURG- Athena “Tina” Xarras Liatsis, 92, passed away on April 21 in the home that she lived in for more than 65 years. Born in Fitchburg on November 22, 1924, to loving parents Harry and Eftehia Xarras, “Dolly” as she was called as a child was the oldest daughter in a family of 10 children. She played a vital role in a Greek household as a sister, caretaker to her many siblings. She put her high school education on hold to assist with her brothers and sisters college pursuits. Following a three month courtship, Athena married the love of her life John Liatsis and celebrated 51 years of marriage in 1997. John pre-deceased her in 1997.

She worked hard her entire life raising siblings, sons, a daughter, and grandchildren. Her life was a history of hard work as a wife, mother and business woman. She had worked at the Comfort Slipper, Foster Grant, Grand View Country Club, Orin’s Restaurant, and the family owned Buttercup Hill Tea Room. She owned and operated Tina’s Diner in Clinton, and she and her husband owned Atlas Realty, a property sales and management company. It was not all business with Tina. Over the years she shared a wonderful and personal relationship with all of her tenants.

Holidays at her home were a festive time of Greek entertainment full of family and friends. Athena was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and received a most prestigious Clergy Laity Award from the Metropolitan of Boston. She was a member and President of the Elpis Ladies Society.

Athena enjoyed traveling. She accompanied John’s band the “Meraklides”, a Greek American orchestra in east coast venues from Maine to Florida and west to Chicago. Her trips to Greece and Albania as entertaining as family summers on Cape Cod.

Tina is survived by her four children. Daughter Joanne Liatsis Donnelly and her husband Thomas of Fitchburg. Sons Elias of North Falmouth, Craig and his partner Jamie McCann of Nashua, NH, and Fred and his wife Stephanie of Lunenburg. Yiayia leaves her loving grandchildren Michael, John and Justin Liatsis, Athena Bierfeldt, Corey, Shane, Alexis, and Noel Donnelly, and Ashlee, Amanda, Alicia and Austin Flagg. Great grandchildren Milana and Iliana Liatsis, Jack Bierfeldt, and Christiana, Dimitri, Kaleigh, and Delaney Donnelly.

Surviving siblings include Leo and his wife Carmela Xarras of Leominster, Vaselecke “Bessie” Xarras and Alexandra Pappas of Fitchburg, and Margarita Plagakis and her husband Konstantine of Holyoke. Also her brother-in-law Christos Liatsis and his wife Virginia of Needham.

She was pre-deceased by brothers John, Fortes, Van, James and Peter.

The family is most grateful to Mary Sweeney, Vaia Chrysikou, and Kathleen Petrullo, the staff at Health Alliance and Health Alliance Hospice for their wonderful care in the final weeks of a wonderful life.

The funeral will be held Tuesday, April 25, 2017  from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg with a Mass at 11 am in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1319 Main St., Fitchburg.  Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery.  Calling hours are Monday from 4-7 pm. Donations may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1319 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA, 01420 or Health Alliance Hospice 60 Hospital Rd.,  Leominster, MA 01453.