MARIA KOKOTINIS
Maria Kokotinis, a loving mother and grandmother and a longtime Sumter resident, died peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at the age of 86, after a long battle with dementia.
Maria, or more fondly remembered as Yiayia Maria, was born on Nov. 11, 1932, in Australia, to Theofanis and Angeliki Antanopoulos. Maria was raised alongside her brother, Ioannis Antanopoulos, and sister, Golfo Kakouras, in Karpenisi, Greece, and immigrated to the United States in 1962, after marrying her husband, the late Ioannis Kokotinis. Maria and Ioannis made their home in Pulaski, Virginia, where they owned a Greek American restaurant. Maria moved to Sumter in 1989 to help her daughter Helen raise her girls. A two-time cancer survivor known for her generosity and hospitality, Maria loved cooking her famous feta cheese and spinach pitas and homemade Greek yogurt for family and friends. She loved gardening, reading, knitting and watching Greek films. Maria dedicated herself to her family and her church and enjoyed spending the summers traveling back to Greece. May her memory be eternal.
Maria is survived by her loving daughters, Eleni "Helen" Ouzounidis and husband, Athanasios, of Sumter and Angeliki "Kiki" Papadoupoulos of Athens, Greece; and her grandchildren, Dr. Stefanos Papadoupoulos his wife, Irini, and daughter, Emelia, Ioanna "Joanna" Ouzounidis Murphy and husband, Sean, and her namesake, Maria Ouzounidis.
Helen was Maria's caretaker for 10 years. They shared an unconditional love and a special bond that was inspiring to so many.
A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home, 1190 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150.
Maria's funeral service will be celebrated at noon on Wednesday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1931 Sumter St., Columbia, SC 29201 or to the Alzheimer's Association Mid-State SC Chapter, P.O. Box 7044, Columbia, SC 29202-7044.
You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book.
The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.