Obituary of Bessie H. Chigas

Bessie H. Chigas, 87, of Peabody, died early Saturday morning at Salem Hospital following a brief illness. Born in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late Argeri and Despina (Pieropoulos) Chigas. She was a life long resident of Peabody and attended Peabody Public Schools. She worked as a leather garment stitcher for Star Sportswear and London Fog in Lynn for over 45 years and retired in 1982. While she was with the company, she often would help immigrant workers with the English language and get acclimated with the company. Bessie enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking, and baking. She loved to spend time with her family teaching them how to bake her many wonderful Greek pastries. She was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed following the Red Sox. Bessie’s joy in life was spending time with her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and was affectionately known as Yia Yia Bessie. She is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Sally Jean Chigas of Clifford, MI, three sisters and a brother-in-law, Stacia Martin of Peabody, Sophia St. Claire of Danvers, and Angelica and Plato Vontzalides of Lynn, and is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Arthur, Nicholas, and Mary Chigas. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday at 9:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody Facility, followed by Services in St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, Peabody at 10:00 AM to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours are on Monday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the St. Vasilios Altar Fund, 5 Paleologos St. Peabody, MA 01960.