Obituary of Mary Panagopulos
The children of Mary Panagopulos are deeply saddened to advise our friends and extended family that on March 13 th our mother, Mary Panagopulos (née Salamis) passed at the age of 97 years following a brief illness.
As many of you know, Mary had a precious and indomitable spirit, always led by a contagious smile and infectious laugh. Her adventurous nature and gracious hospitality, shared also by her husband Eugene, were among her greatest assets.
Mary was born in Montreal, Canada on November 10, 1927. She led a very full life indeed. As a youngster, she worked in her father's "Fairyland" movie theater in Montreal while studying ballet, modern dance in the style of Isadora Duncan, and mastered Spanish traditional dance, ultimately becoming so proficient she performed before the King of Greece.
During World War II, she would receive grievously wounded soldiers from arriving troopships in Montreal and transport them to hospitals there, administering aid to them as well. She ultimately was recognized by both the Canadian and American Red Cross for her devoted service, which continued for many years thereafter in New York, most notably at Burke Rehabilitation Center.
Mary graduated from McGill University and married Eugene Panagopulos in Montreal in 1954. He preceded her in passing, in 1995.
Mary was an avid athlete as well, a devoted skier, skater, hunter and fisherman for many decades, and even water-skied at the age of 83! She was a caring and loving wife to her husband Eugene, and a devoted mother to her children Nan, Demetrios, Basil, and Eugenia. She leaves behind her brother Constantine Salamis of Ottawa, Canada, grandchildren Merlin Moss, Maria Liappis, Anastasia Zamkinos, Alex and Marina Panagopulos, Catherine Barlow, Christina Stergioulis, five great-grandchildren, and a host of loving nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 10 Mill Road, New Rochelle, New York on Monday, March 17th, with viewing at 12:00 noon followed by her funeral service shortly thereafter. Interment will follow at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye, where she will join her husband - 30 years to the day from his own passing.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in her name to St. Michael’s Home, 3 Lehman Terrace, Yonkers, NY 10705.