Obituary of Ellen Venios

Ellen Venios, 82, of Peabody, died Wednesday, February 4, 2015. She was born in Peabody, daughter of the late Andrew and Theodora (Stevis) Venios. She grew up in Peabody and after graduating from Peabody High School, she attended the Burdett School in Boston. Ellen then began her career as a secretary with GTE Sylvania in Danvers. Always wanting to do more, she moved into sales at Sylvania and in 1977, found herself moving to Fort Lauderdale, FL as the sales representative for Southeast Florida. Shortly before her retirement in 1985, she became one of the few women named to the Sylvania's Sales Hall of Fame. She split her time between Peabody and Fort Lauderdale for almost 30 years, volunteering her time and efforts to several organizations in both places. She was a member of St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody all her life, and also a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Lauderdale for over 30 years. She was an active and on the go person throughout her life. Ellen was always engaged at some level no matter her location or the season - skiing, tennis, golf, white water rafting, sailing - and during times when she was unable to participate, she used her time to teach children tennis and how to sail. It's hard to find a photo of her in a family album since she was our official photographer. We're left with endless pages of photos from family gatherings and holidays because of her love of capturing them. She traveled extensively, her most recent trips taking her to Paris with her sisters and nieces, and her last trip to Greece with her youngest sister. She remembered both of these as her favorite times abroad. Ellen was a fierce and loyal daughter, sister, aunt, godmother and friend, and she will be missed by all that knew her. She is survived by her brother and sisters, John Venios and his wife Marilyn, and Mary Kaldes, all of Peabody; and Eva Tournas of Salem. Her nieces and nephews, Theodora Tournas and Stephanie Scanlan of Salem; George Tournas and his wife Debbie; Charles Kaldes and his wife, Maureen; Andrew Kaldes and Theodora Markham, all of Peabody. Her niece and godchild, Kirsten Nikola, of Peabody. Her grandnieces and nephews, Jason and his wife Janelle, Jimi, Christine, Drew, Maura, Evan, Nikko, Andrew, Patrick and Matthew; great-grandniece Mazzy. Aside from her parents, she was pre-deceased by her brother, Michael Venios; sister, Diane Nikola; and brothers-in-law, James Tournas, Edwin Nikola and Prokopes Kaldes. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by her Funeral Service at 10:00 AM at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox church, Paleologos St. Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial will be in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Grove St., Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to St. Vasilios Church, 7 Paleologos St., Peabody, MA 01960.