Obituary of Janice E. (Dewitt) Argeros

Janice E. (Dewitt) Argeros Succumbs after 3 1/2 year Battle with Multiple Myeloma LYNNFIELD—Janice E. (Dewitt) Argeros, 71, beloved wife and of James Argeros of Lynnfield, passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 18, 2012 at the Mass General Hospital in Boston, while in the comforting presence of her family. Born in Manorkill, NY, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Leta (Briggs) Dewitt. She grew up there, and graduated from Gilboa High School and the Albany Business College. She was employed with the Coulter & Barnes Law Firm in Syracuse, NY before she met her husband, Jim, and passionately started an amazing partnership in life that would span over 50 years. After nine years in Syracuse NY, Jim’s retail career brought them to Boston and to Lynnfield MA where they made their home for over 40 years. Janice was a dedicated spouse and mother, dedicating her life to her three children. As a giving soul, she gave great service to the community and to causes that benefited children throughout the world. Janice was a faithful member of St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody. She served as the president of the church PTA and was instrumental in the establishment of scholarship funds that today exceed a million dollars. She was a Past President of the Hellenic Women’s Guild of the North Shore and instrumental in its growth. As a mother with an art of nurturing, she endeavored to improve the life of children in many of her community activities. She worked diligently as a volunteer on behalf of the Home for Little Wanderers. She was the co-chairperson of a national Luncheon held in Boston on behalf of the Philoptochos National Committee, to benefit children’s hospitals in the area. She was also a member of the Archbishops Committee, overseeing the Philoxenia House – a house dedicated to provide housing and sustenance for children and their families undergoing medical treatments in Boston. She was instrumental in organizing an Orphans Weekend for children from the St. Basil orphanage in Garrison NY to visit and stay with local St. Vasilios parish families. Besides her community service, she enjoyed spending time with her family and especially her 10 grandchildren during summertime in Maine and wintertime in Ft. Meyers Beach Florida. She had a wonderful and nurturing spirit that will be dearly missed by her family and friends as they celebrate their gratitude for her life. Early in her battle against an unforgiving cancer disease called Multiple Myeloma, she and her family created a Foundation dedicated to raising money for research to find a cure for Multiple Myeloma. The tax free entity is named “Multiple Myeloma Journey of Hope”. She is survived by her husband, James Argeros of Lynnfield, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage; a son and daughter in-law, Arthur and Laurie Argeros of Michigan; two daughters and sons in-law, Demetra and Paul Farren of Cohasset and Cassandra and John McMahon of Boxford; 10 grandchildren, Haley and Olivia of Michigan. Kayla, Alexandra, Caroline, Sean and Isabella of Cohasset. John, Abigail and Tyler of Boxford. Two sisters, Kathleen Dart of Auburn NY and Barbara (Bobbie) Stryker of Stamford NY; a sister-in-law, Barbara Dewitt of Middleburg NY and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death, besides her parents, by a sister Lavenia (Bea) Leitcher brothers Dayton and Hubert Dewitt. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Monday January 23, 2012 at 11 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Service at 12 Noon in St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, Peabody. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 4 – 8 P.M. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Multiple Myeloma - Journey of Hope, P.O. Box 355, Lynnfield, MA 01940 or to the St. Vasilios Endowment fund, 7 Paleologos Street, Peabody, MA 10960.