Obituary of Sophie (Kastanopoulos) Gawrys

Sophie Gawrys PEABODY--Sophie Gawrys, 82, of Peabody, died peacefully Thursday morning January 24, 2008 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers surrounded by her loving family. Born in Peabody on January 31, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Kostas and Maria (Chrisadea) Kastanopoulos. She was a lifelong Peabody resident, and graduated from Peabody High School, Class of 1942. Sophie was employed as a Stitcher at Duchess Footwear in Salem for over 20 years until her retirement. She was a devoted, life-long member of St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody. Walking was her favorite pastime. She would often be seen walking to the Salem Willows or to the North Shore Shopping Center and then the Mall from her downtown Peabody home. Sophie’s faith and her family were the most important parts of her life. She brought laughter and joy to her family and friends, and practiced her devout faith through friendship, generosity, and kindness to all who knew her. She will be dearly missed by friends and family, as she was a devoted mother of three, including Anthony P. Gawrys, Photographer, of Peabody, Mary Ann Gawrys of North Andover, employed by US Postal Service in Salem, and Patricia Lang & her husband David of TX; she was a most loving grandmother to April A. Swiniuch of Salem and the late Aaron A. Swiniuch; Melissa J. Lang of TX, Christopher D. Lang & his wife Shelley of TX, and loving great-grandmother of Makenzie and Bryson Lang of TX. She was preceded in death by her brothers Christ, Andrew, and John Kastanopoulos, and a sister Catherine Kastanopoulos. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 P.M.in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. location, Peabody. Her funeral will be held on Monday at 10 A.M. in St. Vasilios Church, Peabody, to which relatives and friends are kindly invited. Burial will be in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem. Memorial donations may be made to St. Vasilios Church, 7 Paleologos ST., Peabody, MA 01960.