Obituary of Catherine (Angelakis) Apostolides

Catherine (Angelakis) Apostolides, 83, died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday, May 19, 2013, while visiting her son and grandchildren at their home in Greenwich, CT. She was the widow of Paul J. Apostolides who predeceased her in 1990. Catherine was born in Peabody, MA, the first of four children born to George and Helen (Souliotis) Angelakis and was educated in the Peabody School System. After graduating from high school, she entered Salem State College and in 1951 received her degree and teacher certification in Elementary Education. She then embarked on a long and fruitful teaching career that spanned 44 years at the Thomas Carroll School in Peabody. During that time, her tireless advocacy for children, as well as her teaching skills and professionalism, were widely recognized. She supervised and mentored 34 student teachers assigned to her by Salem State College. She also served as the director of the Peabody Summer Recreation Program for 21 years until the birth of her son. Mrs. Apostolides devoted herself to her parish church of St. Vasilios. She served in the Church School program for a remarkable 61 years and held every position from teacher’s aide to director before retiring in 2008. She also served as an advisor to the parish youth program for 26 years, and was an active member of countless church and diocesan committees over the entire course of her adult life. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to St. Vasilios, she was named Parishioner of the Year in 1998 at a banquet held in her honor, one of only ten persons honored in this way throughout the more than 100 year history of the parish. After her retirement she was able to travel extensively and spent many happy hours engaged in her hobbies of counter cross stitch and embroidery. She delighted in giving her completed work to both family and friends. Her greatest joy remained spending time with her grandchildren. Catherine is survived by her son and his wife, Paul Jon Apostolides, MD and Leslie Donovan, MD of Greenwich, CT., three grandchildren Megan Catherine, Nicolas Paul, and Luke Thomas Apostolides all of Greenwich, CT., her three brothers Peter and his wife Jane Angelakis of Lake Mary, FL., Theodore Angelakis of Salem, MA, Charles and his wife Angel Angelakis of Phoenix, AZ as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends. She was predeceased by her sister-in-law, Shirley Angelakis. Her funeral will be held on Saturday May 25, 2013 at 9:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a service at 10:00 AM at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 5 Paleologos St., Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Catherine’s memory to the Catherine and Paul Apostolides Scholarship Fund, 7 Paleologos St., Peabody, MA01960. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody.