Barbara J. Akrotirianakis was born March 12, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan. She attended public high school and studied secretarial skills. When her father passed away in 1959, she graduated high school a semester early and began working as a legal secretary to support her family.

She and Nicholas J. Akrotirianakis were married March 1, 1968, and honeymooned in Southern California. Following the winter of 1968-1969, they decided to make Southern California their home, and they moved to Whittier, California, in 1969.

She raised two sons, Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis and Joseph N. Akrotirianakis, born in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

Prior to starting a family, she worked as a legal secretary in Los Angeles, California. She returned to her career in the early 1980s, working as a legal secretary in Whittier and Santa Fe Springs, California. She retired in 2008.

She enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading, watching classic movies, and caring for her cat, Patricia. Her grandchildren always looked forward to making koulourakia and doing intricate puzzles with their yiayia.

In 2008, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, from which she was able to recover three times. Her cancer returned in November 2020. She fought bravely against it, but succumbed on August 12, 2021, aged 78.

She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas in June 2014. She is survived by her sons, her daughters-in-law Lisa Akrotirianakis and Sherese Marie Akrotirianakis, and her four grandchildren, Nicholas Stavros (14), Nicholas Joseph (8), Michael Joseph (8), and Amalia Maddalena (3).

Over the last several months of her life, she lived with her younger son and his family in Altadena, California.

She was devout in her Orthodox faith and took great joy in teaching it to her children and grandchildren. She was a member of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena, California, where she attended services regularly.

Her earthly remains will be laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California, near the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Chapel. In her retirement, she volunteered as a docent at the Saint Nicholas Chapel, sharing with visitors her extensive knowledge of its beautiful Byzantine iconography.

Services

Services will be held at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 S. Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91107. Trisagion - Monday, August 16, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Funeral - Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.

A makaria luncheon will be held in the Saint Anthony parish hall immediately following the funeral service. Interment ceremony will follow the makaria at Rose Hills.

May her memory be eternal.

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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