Maria Malaktaris

Maria Malaktaris, 97 of Mason City passed away Saturday, July 5, 2003 at the Good Shepherd Health Center after suffering a stroke. Funeral Services for Maria will be held 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 1311 Second Street SW with Rev. Joseph Mirowski officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation for Maria will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the Greek Orthodox Church with a Trisagion Prayer service at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to the Maria Malaktaris Memorial Fund for use at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. Maria was born in Agios Loukas, Greece on October 28, 1905 and came to the United States at the age of eleven. She was the first of eleven children born to James and Vasiliki Zanios. Maria was united in marriage on December 31, 1922 to Antonios Malaktaris and the two raised seven children. They worked side-by-side for 52 years owning and operating the Atlas Meat Market, now Pete?s Kitchen, until their retirement. They loved people and never sat for a Sunday dinner without family or friends at their table. Maria loved helping her family and friends bake Greek pastries and cookies into the wee hours of the morning throughout the years. She was a devoted church member and belonged to the Philoptochos Society (Friends of the Poor) and Daughter?s of Penelope. Left to cherish her memory are six of her seven children, Ethel Despenas of Mason City, Helen and husband Andrew Pergakis of Mason City, Stella and husband William Rickoff of Winona, Minnesota, George Malaktaris and wife Georgia of Minot, North Dakota, Arita Travlos of Columbia, Missouri and Philothea and husband James Hettinger of Norwalk, Iowa. Sisters, Stella Pathoulas of Mason City, Jean James of Detroit, Michigan, Luella Rumeliote of Bloomington, Minnesota, Helen Berris of Canton, Michigan and brother Chris Zanios of Tarpan Springs, Florida. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and fourteen great-great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Vasiliki Zanios, husband Antonios Malaktaris, beloved daughter Bessie Brown ? Halloran, sisters Faye Soumas, Gertrude Ringus and Elizabeth Paras, Brothers, George Zanios and Tom Zanios, and three sons-in-law, Alex Despenas, William Brown and Peter Lamont.

Visitation:
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on July 7, 2003 (map/driving directions) 11:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on July 9, 2003 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:00 AM at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on July 8, 2003 (map/driving directions)