Mary E Valvanis, 86, formerly of Haverhill, MA, passed away peacefully Monday morning, August 11, at her home in Atkinson, New Hampshire.
Born in Kaltezias, Greece on February 15, 1928, Mary was the youngest child of Epamanodus Sotiropoulos and Athanasia Koulouras. She immigrated with her sister Vasiliki to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they spent two years with their dear cousins, Martha Plakas and Stella Cosmos, and their parents. Mary was the beloved wife of fifty years of the late Norman “Nundy” Valvanis. They met walking down the aisle as bridesmaid and usher when their cousins married each other.
She will be dearly missed by her two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Katherine Valvanis and George and Thea Valvanis all of Atkinson. Nothing made her happier than spending time with her four grandchildren, George N. Valvanis, Jr. of South Boston, MA; Nicholas T. Valvanis of South Boston, MA; Maria V. Valvanis of Albany, NY and William J. Valvanis of Atkinson, who will all miss their Yiayia Mary very much. She also leaves behind several nephews and nieces.
Mary was an active member of the Holy Apostles Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church for 59 years and was honored this past June with The Ministry Award of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. Mary was also a member of the Philoptochos Society Elpis, a ministry of the Church, for more than 50 years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Apostles Buildings Renovation Fund c/o Holy Apostles Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 154-156 Winter Street, Haverhill, MA 01830 or to Dr. Amir Fathi Research Fund, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Emerson Place, Boston, MA 02114
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her calling hours on Thursday, August 14 from 4 to 7 pm at H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 106 Summer Street, Haverhill. Her Funeral will be Friday morning, August 15, beginning at 11:00 at the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Service at 12:00 in Holy Apostles Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 154-156 Winter Street, Haverhill. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill.