Helene Mandakas Obituary

Mandakas, Helene (nee Stavrakos), age 93, beloved wife of the late Emmanuel of Hania, Crete, devoted and cherished mother of Mary Joy "Cookie" (Nicholas) Gryfakis, Takie and the mother of their children, Janie, loving daughter of the late Gus and Maria Stavrakos, dearest YiaYia of Helene Gryfakis (Stephen) Ripley, Paul (Valerie) and Stephanie Gryfakis, Mike, Dolly and Spero Mandakas and great YiaYia of Domenic, Marina and Isabella, dear sister of the late Lieutenant John G. Stevens USAF (1951), dear aunt of many nieces and nephews. Helene along with her husband managed E. Mandakas Jewelers in Chicago's Greek Town where she continued the business after her husband's death for an additional 35 years until she retired. Helene was a member of the St. Demetrios Philoptochos Society (Concord, Ca.), the Pan Cretan Association, Amalthia. The Greek Mother's Club of Hull House (Chicago) and the Senior Center, First Presbyterian Church, Concord, CA. Visitation Friday, 4 to 9 p.m. at Salerno's Galewood Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Ave. Chicago. Family and friends are requested to meet Saturday morning at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 733 S. Ashland Ave. for 10:00 a.m. Funeral service. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Arrangements by Nicholas M. Pishos Funeral Director, Ltd. (Hellenic Funeral Service) 773-745-1333