Stella Thomas' Obituary
Stella Pastis Thomas, age 98, passed away on May 13, 2023, in Clearwater, Florida.
From an early age, Stella loved to learn and was passionate about her family and her heritage.
Stella was born in Verona, Pennsylvania and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio with her loving parents and five siblings. She graduated from East High School Summa Cum Laude in Cleveland in 1943. She attended Mount Union College on a scholarship and graduated with a B.A. in English in 1947. That same year Stella married her lifelong love Louis A. Thomas and relocated to Pittsburgh, PA where she began her more than 35-year teaching career in Pittsburgh and later in South Bend, Indiana. While in South Bend, Stella raised her two sons, worked full time as an English teacher, and earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Notre Dame. Stella’s love for English and poetry earned her the respect of her students and her peers. A published poet until her death, she could entertain her family and friends with the recitation of beautiful poetry. Her love of learning served her well throughout her accomplished life.
Stella was a devout Orthodox Christian who was very proud of her Greek heritage, and she was a tireless worker with her husband at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend. In 1986, Stella moved to Safety Harbor, Florida with Louis to fulfill a lifelong dream of retirement in sunny Florida. Her love of the island of her ancestry, Ikaria Greece, led her to become the editor of the quarterly National Magazine of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood. Stella’s love of learning allowed her to embrace technology and attend classes in computer technology to sharpen her editorial skills.
Stella was predeceased by her parents George V. Pastis and Elizabeth (Parianos). Her beloved husband Louis of 56 years, her sisters, Zachary (Zane) Katsikis, Vasilia, Diane (Andrew) Manos, Dorothy (George) Martinos, and Brother William.
She is survived by her sister-in-law Connie Pastis, her two beloved sons Andrew Dennis and George Gary (Crystal). She was extremely proud of her accomplished grandchildren Louis (Megan), Stefanie, Joy Eifrid (Kenneth) and Stacey O’Bryan (Robert). Stella will always be in the fondest memory of her great grandchildren Fiona Thomas, George and Caroline Eifrid, and Elaina, Abigail, Lila, Amelia and soon to be Baby Nora O’Bryan. Stella formed a great bond with her step grandchildren Jennifer, Michael (Alivia) Bruns and Shelly Cavanaugh (David French). Stella leaves behind countless cousins, nieces and nephews and friends from around the world.
Stella will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, a passionate writer and storyteller with an encyclopedic memory. She will be greatly missed by all that know her.
VISITATION on FRIDAY from 4 to 8 PM at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 23040 Center Ridge Rd. Westlake, OH 44145. TRISAGION SERVICE at 7 PM with Fr. Dean Dimon officiating. FUNERAL SERVICE on SATURDAY MAY 20, 2023 at 11 AM at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 22909 Center Ridge Rd. Rocky River, OH 44116 with Fr. Andrew Lentz officiating. Interment at St. Theodosius Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in memory of Stella to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River Ohio 44116, or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 409 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater, Florida 33765 or the Pan-Icarian Foundation P.O. Box 79037 Pittsburgh, PA, 15216-0037 earmarked Icarian Magazine Fund.
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