Pandora Skourtas passed away on March 1, 2024 following complications from surgery. She was 87.

She is survived by her sons Nick and Tony, daughter-in-law Angelique, daughter  Angela, her brother Dimitris, brother-in-law Alex and many in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces and friends who became family, both in the U.S., Canada and Greece.

She was predeceased by her husband, Athanasios, her sister, Maria, and four brothers, Stamatis, Pavlos, Poulos, and Vasilis.

She was born Pandora Xepapadakou in Pirgo Dirou, a small town on the Mani Peninsula of Greece. She moved to Athens as a teenager where she lived with her eldest brother Stamatis.  Several years later she was introduced to Athanasios at a pre-lenten party and they were married forty-days later.  Within a few years, with the help of her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Peggy and Al Dogris, they moved to the United States with their two sons, followed soon after by their newly minted "Americanaki" daughter Angela.

While she was always very proud and loved Greece, she was also proud to become an American citizen. She took on the challenge of learning a new language, and welcomed many new customs -- Thanksgiving, 4th of July, high school prom, Doritos, and hamburgers to name a few.

She loved people, especially her neighbors. She loved talking to everyone, hearing their stories and sharing her own. Years ago, her many hours at the family restaurant gave her the opportunity to get to know so many employees and customers that she spoke about often and fondly for the rest of her days.

Pandora was the epitome of a Greek mother.  (If you know you know) She still worried about her adult children dressing warmly, and kept careful tabs on what they were eating. A typical family dinner turned into an eight-course meal where she catered to each person's specific tastes. Guests would leave having eaten too much and with a container of food.

She was a devoted and loving wife to her husband Thanasis.  After his passing nearly four years ago, she visited his gravesite frequently for as long as she could.  They were married for over 55 years.

She was a devout Greek Orthodox Christian and her home was a reflection of her faith and Greek heritage.  She stressed the importance of education, and loved books, gardening, and Court TV.  She was gentle, soft spoken, loving, and selfless yet still resilient and hard working.  Her humor was not always obvious, but under the surface she was sharp-witted with a dry sense of humor.

During the span of her life, she witnessed a changing world.  Born into a rustic stone house with no electricity or running water -- vivid memories of German soldiers outside her window, and over the course of time advanced to a fitness watch (putting in more steps than most of us), and enjoying YouTube and her cell phone with frequent calls to family and friends in Greece, Canada and nearby. She remained a proud 'Maniatisa' and had a running argument with her husband on whose town was better, her Pirgo Dirou vs his Vartholomio.

May her memory be a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. Please either mail a check to: 5761 E. Colorado Street, Long Beach, CA 90814 or Venmo: @LBAssumption

Funeral service is at 11:30am on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church 5761 E. Colorado Street, Long Beach CA 90814. Makaria/Lunch immediately following the funeral: 12:30pm - 2:00pm in the church hall. Funeral procession to Forest Lawn Cemetery at 2:15 pm, burial at 3:00pm. Forest Lawn Cemetery Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630.

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

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

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