Mary Samaras Vasilas, 93, of Orange, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 29, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Mary was pre-deceased by her beloved husband George Michael Vasilas in 2005 after 56 years of marriage.
Born in Danbury on September 10, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Anastas and Despina Samaras. Mary grew up in New Haven and raised her family in West Haven and then Orange.
Mary had a career in business finance, working for the New Haven Railroad and the New Haven Register. In her later years, she worked part-time in the business office of Macy’s Department Store.
Mary had a lifelong passion for reading, gardening, cooking and knitting and was an enthusiastic fan of the New York Yankees. She embraced her Greek heritage with her love of its music and dancing and had a lifelong commitment to her church and faith.
She was affectionately known as “Yiayia” to her 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren whom she truly adored. Her home was always filled with love and laughter and she leaves behind a legacy of wonderful memories for her family to cherish and always remember her by.
Mary is survived by her six loving daughters, Denise (John) Wiedemann, Evelyn (Richard) Principe, Zmara (Donald) Knoll, Anita Stock, Penny Vasilas and Tina (Richard) Duffy; her cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth (Michael) Oliveras, Rebecca (Jason) Hayden, Lisa Knoll, Steven (Adrienne) Principe, Stacey (Kevin) Chadderton, Eric (Ann) Wiedemann, Jason Knoll, Jeffrey (Lisa) Wiedemann, Alexander Stock and Katherine (Greg) Fabso; and her adorable great grandchildren.
She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews. Mary was pre-deceased by her only sister, Zmara Passa. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Alina’s Elder Care LLC for the compassionate caregivers that enabled our mother to live in her home during the last year of her life.
The family is grateful for the caring services provided by the Orange VNA, Hospice at Home and CT Hospice of Branford.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017, at 1 p.m. at St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Rd., Orange, CT. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 769 Ella T. Grasso Blvd., New Haven, CT.
Friends and family may call on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 N. Broad St., Milford. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405 or St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Road, Orange, CT 06477.
To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice.com.