Paraskevi "Voula" Karatzas was born in 1928 in the Greek island of Paros. She was the second of nine children and the second daughter. After tragedy struck the family while she was still very young, Voula had to quickly learn how to grow up. While Greece was occupied by Nazi Germany, her father, Panayioti, suddenly died after receiving a beating to the head by Nazi soldiers. Her mother, Maria, was left alone to raise eight small children in the middle of a war. In order to help her mother and support her younger siblings, Paraskevoula began working, walking in to the city everyday to sell the milk from their goats. Once the war was over, her uncle brought her to Athens to become a boarder for a wealthy shipping family. Though it proved to be difficult, being a young girl away from home, she was able to send food and money to Paros to help her family survive.

Voula remained working for the shipping family until she met and married her husband of 57 years, Andrea Karatzas. Together they had three children, Yianni, Harula, and Panayioti. As a couple they worked hard and started their family in Marousi. At the age of 46 she made the difficult decision with Andrea to move their family to Los Angeles in hopes of a better life. Not knowing the language or how to drive a car, they took a risk together for the sake of their children. She was a humble, courageous and strong willed woman, taking any job in order to provide. For more than five years she worked as a janitor at Saint Anthony's Church, never losing hope or faith. During her hardship she developed a connection with Saint Anthony, often sharing that in the private times of her despair she would see him smile and tell her not to worry.

She lived a simple life, with little concern for the material. Instead she devoted all of her time to her family and children. Despite what life would throw at them, Paraskevi always guided her kids to stay strong and move forward. A lover of music and poetry, Paraksevi's passion for the two arts remained true until the end. She would often sing to her family or people she would meet, brightening their day with her smiling face and soft eyes. She will be greatly missed.

Trisagion at 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2018. Funeral service at 11:00 am on Friday, August 10, 2018. Both services at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 South Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Makaria reception will follow the funeral service in the hall. Interment will then take place at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, California. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in her name.

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

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

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