Obituary of Leo A. Karahalis

Leo A. Karahalis, 80, of Peabody, died early Friday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was the husband of Bess (Anastos) Karahalis with whom he shared 54 years of marriage. He was born in Peabody on April 4, 1926, the son of the late Aristo J. and Stavroula (Argeros) Karahalis and was a life long resident of Peabody. Following his graduation from Peabody High School in 1944, he entered the US Navy where he served in WW 11 in the Asiatic and Pacific Theatre campaigns and was aboard the USS Bennington that sat next to the USS Missouri for the signing of the Japan surrender in 1945. He was a member of the VFW Post 1011 of Peabody and was always a boat enthusiast and had been a member of the Quarterdeck Yacht Club of Marblehead. Mr. Karahalis was first employed at the Arrow Electric Company of Peabody for 20 years. He then became the chief electrician at the Salem State College for twenty years prior to his retirement 10 years ago. He had been a fifty year member of the Jordan Lodge of Masons, A.F.& A.M. of Peabody. Surviving him besides his wife are a daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Stephanie K. Green and her husband, Timothy Green and his grandaughter, Christina Stevens all of Marblehead, two brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Penny Karahalis of Peabody and Michael and Mary Lu Karahalis of St. Petersburg, FL, and his nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews, Alan, Andrew, Paula Michael, Mary and Susan Karahalis, Kenny, Arthur and Connie Athas and Patrick Karahalis, Jessica and Jennifer Athas. He was the brother of the late Mary Athas and Thekla Karahalis. A visitation will be held on Monday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. His Funeral will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by Services in St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, Peabody at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923 in his memory.