Alkisti George Deneff was born on the Greek island of Lesvos, Mytilene on June 17, 1930, to Panagioti and Andromaxi Sfounis.  She was the youngest of six children, having 3 older brothers, Andonis, Giorgos and Lefteris and 2 older sisters, Mary and Angela.  Just like most families living in Greece during the early 1900s, her family struggled to make ends meet.  Her father traveled to America to establish a "zaharoplastio" bakery in Chicago, Illinois, where he met and married Andromahi Karamitros and the first children-twins, Andonis and Mary were born as US citizens, then all of them returned to the Island of Lesvos during the war. Times were changing and opportunities appeared for Alkisti, her siblings Angela, Lefteris, and her mom and dad to travel back to America after WWII, at her young age of 21, aboard ship bound for America to meet up with the twins and their families who were already established in California.

She met the love of her life, George V. Deneff, in the late 1950s at a Greek Debutant dance gathering at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles April 1955 and they were married on September 2, 1955, at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles. She studied the English language and took her citizenship test where President Eisenhower signed a special bill allowing her to stay in the USA.  Alkisti and George had four children, Helen, Kathy, Billy and Peter.  The family lived in a beautiful area in Los Alamitos, California in Orange County since 1958. The family home is still the Deneff Residence of 64 years where every holiday, birthday and many family/friend gatherings and celebrations occurred over the past 64 years. It was a home where all were welcomed with warm, acceptance and love - not to mention Alkisti's delicious Greek food and pastries, and where the "briki" was always on the stove for a Greek café for any visitor any time of the day.

Alkisti was a brilliant seamstress who made custom tailor-made clothing for celebrities like Peggy Lee, and Greta Anderson, and many more clients as she built her entrepreneurial business "Alki's Sewing Needle" out of her home where George built Alkisti her own sewing room. Alkisti and George supported many lessons in music, arts, dance, sports, and raised the children in the Greek Orthodox faith where they attended Sunday School, Greek Dance and Greek school.

Alkisti was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church since 1958. She was a lifetime member of the Philoptochos Ladies Society, helped with the Greek Festival, made her famous dolmades and contributed to every philanthropic event at the church and other Greek Orthodox churches in the area. In 1982, Alkisti and George were founding board members, great supporters and benefactors to Able ARTS Work, a local non-profit for individuals with developmental disabilities and autism.

Alkisti was widowed in 1991 of her first husband, George, of 42 years marriage. In 1998, Alkisti married her 2nd husband Aristides Roubanis, a Greek Olympian and traveled the world to all continents until his passing in 2018.  Alkisti is survived by four children, Helen, Kathy, Billy and Peter, as well as two step children, Savvas and Alex Roubanis; eleven grandchildren, four step-grandhildren, fifteen great grandchildren and one step-great grandchild.  Alkisti and George children (& in-laws) include: Helen (Ron), Kathy (George), Billy (Diana), Peter (Diane); grandchildren Nicolette (Robert), James (Angie), Gina (Kyle), Alkisti, Eleni (Tyler), Iliana, Anthony (Shawnna) Christina (Landon), Gitana, Sophia (Ryan), George, step -children with Aristides; Savvas (Jody) Alex (Katherine) step-grand children Alexander, Aristides, Robert, Aristides. Great grandchildren include, Genevieve, Ariana, Roseline, Lorilie, Alexandra, Danielle, Lukas, Talia, Teagan, Maximos, Corbin, Kinley, Weston, Ava, Roman, Emma, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Quite a legacy!

Alkisti was kind, compassionate, loving, and supportive to anyone she met. Alkisti had an exceptional amount of love for her family. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the loves of her life, her nieces and nephews she adored, and her great nieces and nephews lovingly called her "Yiayia & Big Yiayia".

She loved the Lord and endured many hardships without wavering in her love, faith, and trust in God. She will be missed by all. God rest her soul and may her memory be eternal.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to help us with a room naming and build a legacy for Alkisti and George Deneff in the newly purchased Home of Our Own for Able ARTS Work in Long Beach, Ca. where everyone is welcomed and loved. With gratitude:

Website: www.ableartswork.org

By Mail:

Able ARTS Work C/O Helen Dolas
3626 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, California 90814

Services will be held at:

Assumption Of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
Trisagion: Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, at 7 pm
Funeral: Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, at 11 am
Interment at Forest Lawn at 1pm, 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress, California 90630.

Makaria following the interment at the Deneff Family Home.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Mary Harmon, owner. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfunerals.com .

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