Vasiliki Panagotopulos' Obituary
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5 To all; our family, our friends, our co-workers and beloved church body. May you all find grace and peace in the loving memory of our Mother. She would remind us all; "Sorrow not even as others which have no hope. I Thessalonians 4:13. How fitting that our dear Savior chose to call our mother to heaven at Easter. She had a heartfelt and deep love for the Lord. And like Daniel our Mom purposed in her heart to raise us in the love and admonition of the Lord and to share her faith in Christ Jesus with all. She delighted in sending all of you cards with devotional messages and words of encouragement. Mom also filled her life experiencing God's great creation and filled her home with reminders of heavenly things especially collecting angels and now today she is rejoicing with the saints and angels in heaven! As our parents started out in life, they built; with their own hands, our lovely NJ home. (Her oldest son is now raising his family there- such a legacy). We enjoyed long talks at the dinner table and she insisted that her children (us) attended Christian School. Pete or Petey as my Mother liked to call our Dad had applied for and received a job position overseas for 5 years in Central America, Panama. At first our Mom was very hesitant to leave the safety of the United States having her youngest being just 2 years old. By the time this tour of duty was over she did not want to tear herself away. She made long lasting friendships that were more like family. (None of us had our immediate families in the country). And ps… we have delighted in keeping up on all your comings and goings through your Christmas letters and emails. She worked as a church secretary at Calvary Lutheran church. She still has the bunny and zoo sign that the Vicar Val had put over her office door. She cherished serving and worshiping with the members of the congregation and often worked with the help of others in the church to get the bulletin and newsletters out. We also visited the missionaries working in the interior jungles of Panama which left life long impressions on all of us. Being in Panama opened her up to a whole new world of experiences too. Such as becoming an active avid member of various clubs; rock hunting and tumbling, bottle collecting, ceramics, bridge, bowling, she even substituted once on a team whose member was out and bowled so well that the team won the championship she didn't even realize that they were in the running. (She was proud of that day)! And she was even was quite the tennis player! She collected many Molas (native artwork from the Kuna Indians), mingled with ladies of the officers club and especially enjoyed boating out to the small islands on Gatun Lake. We traveled back to the states in a big blue Ford Econoline van for a MONTH with the SIX of us! – My parents, especially my Mom pushed to see as many things along the way - from Central America seeing place like Chichicastenango, Guatemala to Carlsbad Caverns, CO into California's Disney Land to the 4 corners, NM and into the Grand Canyon AZ. and many other place to numerous to mention. That 1st year back in NJ was a hard adjustment and culture shock to all of us. Once again our Mom settled into the role of church secretary and took on part time jobs to make Christian education possible. She was especially honored by the ladies at NDC one of her longest part time jobs with a book filled with pictures and well wishes from her late night coworkers. She was often seen there with the dreaded bill box and would even wrap Christmas gifts late at night between calls to get all her Christmas duties complete. Mom also wrote a social column for the local paper under the byline Bea Topulos. Sounded like (bee topless) when she would retell the story! She was amazed that no one at the paper caught on. Mom was known by many different names, she grew up in Chicopee Falls MA. Her grade school teacher insisted that she be called by the proper English version of her name Elizabeth (which she secretly detested) my father 9 years her senior grew up just across the bridge and called her Sister Bea as child. Her side of the family lovingly calls her Betty, the name she much more preferred and wanted to be called in school over Elizabeth. And to everyone else she is known as Bea or simply by the letter B which she liked to write with a smiley face inside the letter. We could always tell when a telemarketer was calling as they stumbled over her Greek name. Mom was actually named Vasiliki Panagotopulos (but NO middle name!!) born on St Patrick's day March 17, 1937. Widow of Peter V. Panagotopulos. (Petey) And next to her love for the Lord and her family …She loved all things Irish and Scottish and chose to retiree here with our Dad in Florida. She wanted to see this little Scottish town named Dunedin and made this her home until her death on April 5th 2012. Petey and B created a whole new family of friends here in Florida. Once again B served as a church secretary and worked part time for the Nielsen TV ratings. They especially enjoyed small groups and had the fun of be razzed about conversational prayer not controversial prayer). They were even adopted as grandparents Grandma B and Grandpa P. She also survived a very deadly form of cancer, which she contributed solely to the great mercy of God. Through that troubling year the Lord saw fit to bring a lovely nurse who shared our mother's faith and shared her daughter's name! (Marie). "In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 Through the Florida years Mom had the opportunity to travel attend conferences and the like. Her next Grand adventure was a Cruise to Greece and Rome in 1999 aboard the Grand Princess Ship She was able to see the land of her heritage and places where the Apostle Paul preached! For our Florida friends who knew how much mom had come to rely on a motorized cart it just goes to show you she really knew how to get around! The Panagotopulos clan added to their numbers as we children married. To her 8 grandchildren she is Yia Yia! (Greek for grandmother). Yia Yia always wanted one thing for Christmas MORE Grandchildren! And she cherished them (and spoiled them). When her dear Petey died just before her birthday in March of 1999 the church family and friends surrounded her with loving arms. . She is survived by 4 children. Three sons and one daughter, William Panagotopulos and Daughter-in- Love Karen of NJ, John Panagotopulos and Daughter-in-Love Vangie of NJ , Daughter Marie Panagotopulos of FL (pal and confidant) and son Peter Panagotopulos of Va. (Matthew, PM), 8 Grandchildren: Erin Marie, (Erinouli) Christine (Chissouli) and Nicholas (Nicko), Gregory (Manna), Aaron (Manna) and Annie (Annouli, Angel Eyes) and Ethan (Red Head, Red) and Colin (Colinouli,Who loves you, Baby!) She is also survived by her youngest sister Joanne Lyman and Brother-in-Love Brian, Aunt Millie and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial Donations in Vasiliki's Memory can be made to the
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."May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and of the patience that comes from Christ." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 Blessings & Love the Panagotopulos Family
What’s your fondest memory of Vasiliki?
What’s a lesson you learned from Vasiliki?
Share a story where Vasiliki's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Vasiliki you’ll never forget.
How did Vasiliki make you smile?