Panayota "Popi" Skourtas Dogris passed away January 20, 2022 at Long Beach Memorial Hospital due to Leukemia.

She was born March 12, 1938 in Vartholomio, Greece. She grew up with an older sister Chrisoula (Bonaparte) and younger brother Thanasis Skourtas (Pandora). Popi spent her early childhood going to school and visiting her family farm in the summer. In 1944, both her parents were civilian casualties in WWII and at the age of 12 she moved to Athens with her aunt. There she learned to become a seamstress and even beaded dresses for Queen Frederica of Hanover. At 15, Popi was sponsored by a woman to pursue her career as a seamstress in New York City, New York. She lived in Washington Heights and in May of 1956 she met her husband Alexander "Alex" Dogris, they married November 10, 1956 in Saint Barbara Church. They lived in Brooklyn and had their first two children Christina (John McGrath) and Steve (Pam). In 1962, they moved to Long Beach, California and had their son Nicholas (Tiffany). They eventually settled into their forever home in Cerritos, CA in 1969 where they raised a family, traveled, and enjoyed many family get-togethers.

Popi loved to bring joy to her home through feeding her family. She had a thirst for knowledge and took night classes to learn how to use computers. Popi enjoyed yoga, working her garden (growing the best tomatoes), baking for every holiday, sewing, taking care of her home, and keeping a full stock of koulourakia (Greek cookies). She was very involved in her faith and her Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, CA. Popi was a member of the Philoptochos Society, sang in the choir, baked holy communion bread, coordinated the Nea Ellas (Greek Dance) Group, and volunteered every year at the Greek Festival serving food. She adored her grandsons and great-granddaughters. Popi spent her later years with her husband watching them swim in their pool, feeding them soup, and sending them home with their pockets full of treats. She was preceded in life by her parents, brother and sister. Popi is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren Thomas (Emily) Liakos, Alex Liakos, Anthony McGrath, AJ Dogris, Theodore Dogris, and Neo Dogris; and great-grandchildren Mary and Poppy Liakos.

The Trisagion will be on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 7pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022 at 12pm. Both services will be held at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, CA, followed by the burial at Forest Lawn in Cypress, CA.

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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