Maria Sarantakos, a loving mother and yiayia (grandmother) was born on September 15, 1936 in Stavro, Greece and passed away on April 26, 2016, in the Alhambra Hospital, near her home in California.
Maria spent her childhood in Mani, Greece and later in Halandri
(a suburb of Athens, Greece) with her parents Petros and Vasiliki Laskaris along with her siblings Georgos, Stavroula, Panagiotis, Ilias and Poppi. She was married to her husband, Michael on December 27, 1967. In 1968, she gave birth to their son Panagiotis. In 1969, the three migrated to the United States.
In 1970, Maria gave birth to their first daughter Stavroula and in 1974 their youngest daughter Vasiliki while living in Maywood California. In 1977, Michael and Maria purchased their forever home in Downey, California. They shared many wonderful memories with their family and life long friends.
Maria loved cooking Greek food and pastries. She was well - known for her yalaktoboureko and homemade bread. She always kept her door open and her friends felt free to visit any time for one of her greatest pleasures in life; conversation with family and friends. She was an active member of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Downey since its founding. She will be remembered for her loving, caring and giving personality and was always ready and willing to listen and help anyone. Her unconditional love for her family and friends brought her great happiness.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as her sister Stavroula. She is survived by her son Panayiotis, daughters Stavroula and Vasiliki, sons in law Thanasis and Vinny, as well as her three granddaughters Vasiliki, Maria and Michaela.
The Trisagion service will be at 7PM on Monday May 2, 2016 at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church at 10830 Downey Ave. Downey California 90241. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 also at Saint George. The burial to follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint George in memorial.
Email condolences to www.ChapmanFuneralDirectors.com Terry & Mary Harmon, Funeral Directors, toll free (855) 628-0447.