Georgia Stavrakes

February 15, 1930 ~ July 27, 2013

Surrounded by family, Georgia Hellis Stavrakes, nee' Xakousti Hellis, 83 of Placentia, California departed this life into His eternal loving embrace on Saturday, July 27, 2013.

She was born on February 15, 1930 in Pyrgos, Greece to Nikos and Dionysia Hellis. Her father died suddenly and so at age 5, little Xakousti was put aboard the S.S. Byron and sailed alone to Ellis Island and her new home in the United States of America to be with her adoptive parents, George and Corinne Hellis. Her adoptive father was in fact her late father's older brother and he loved her as his own.

She spent her early childhood in Chicago along with another sister who arrived later, until the family moved to Southern California where she finished high school. Georgia attended Los Angeles State College, where she received her degree and was awarded outstanding Woman of the Year in 1953. Upon graduation, she worked as a teacher and started a family. Moving to Orange County in 1962, she taught with the same school district for 48 years and was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 1993 and later received her Master's Degree in Reading from Pepperdine University.
While attending college, she met Ralph Stephens. They were married in St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles in June 1953 and together, they raised three boys in the faith. . Later in life, she married the late James Stavrakes.

Georgia is survived by her three loving sons, Ralph (Kathy) of Lansing Michigan, George (Mary Ann) of Fullerton California, Nicholas (Mikiko) of Wenatchee, Washington and grandchildren Michael, Paul, Eric, Kyle, Sophia and Georgia.
Everyone knew Yia-Yia's six grandchildren gave her immense joy and she loved them dearly.
She is also survived by her sister Elene (John) Wentz of Grass Valley, California and her dear sister-in-law Persephoni Stavrakes (Dukas) Contos of Anaheim, California.

She was a founding member of Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim, California and was a member of the Ladies Guild, Philoptochos Society, was a GOYA advisor and taught Sunday school for many years. Her community bestowed upon her the honor of Mother of the Year in 1991. She was a woman of faith who loved being with her family, her friends and was deeply devoted to her community. She donated countless hours working with her dear friends baking Greek pastries and working for the O.C. street fair, church festivals and other church functions. We apologize that because she was loved by so many special friends that their names are too numerous to list. God bless you all, you were her life!

Although her accomplishments were many, she thought only of family and her "parea". Yia-Yia loved Greek music and culture, a cup of coffee (black) in the morning, sitting outside her home in the afternoon breeze, walking on the beach, reading novels, shopping, gardening, cooking delicious Greek meals, every Christmas with family was always special and of course she loved her trips to Greece. Her energy and strength of character were truly remarkable.

May her memory be eternal!

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands and a sister, Niki (Dinos) Fafoutis of Athens, Greece.

Georgia's Trisagion will be Wednesday, July 31, at 7:00 pm at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim, CA.
We will have a celebration of Georgia's life at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2013, at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 405 N. Dale in Anaheim, CA. 92801, with interment following at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton. Friends and family are welcome and encouraged to join us.

Flowers may be sent to her beloved church. Memorial donations may be made to Philoptochos Society of Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.

Please express your thoughts and memories in the online guestbook at www.greekobituary.com Arrangements are by Chapman Funeral Care, City of Orange.