Grace M. Kourkos

The Trisagion will be this Wednesday, March 13th at 7:00pm at Lima Family Erikson Memorial Chapel, 710 Willow Street, San Jose.

The Funeral will be on Thursday, March 14th at 10:30am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

The Interment will follow the funeral at Mission City Memorial Park at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in Grace’s memory to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

May her memory be eternal.

Grace Marina Kourkos was born on October 5th, 1943 in Connecticut to Chris and Flora Cassimus where she spent her early childhood. Grace was the oldest of five, with siblings, James Cassimus, Barbara Cassimus, Georgia Vukovich-Maddox (Joe Vukovich) (Ed Maddox), and Alex Cassimus. In 1946 her family moved to San Jose where Grace's parents, Chris and Flora, were founding members of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

Growing up, Grace would help her parents out at their family restaurant, where she would eventually meet and fall in love with Ted Kourkos, her husband of 60 years. They delighted in their three children, son Chris Kourkos, daughters Georgeanna Kourkos, and daughter Helen-Marie Ford. She was Yiayia to Rachelle, Allison, Jacob, and William; Progiagia to Ryker, Carson, Bristal and baby Woods; cousins to Leo Kontos, Barbara Blackwell, and Julie Apostolu.

She built her career close to her family. She worked for San Jose Unified School District in the school kitchens, as a teacher’s aide, school registrar, and then retired from the transportation department where she represented her co-workers in the union. She loved her family, Santa Cruz, fishing on the pier, anything with the ocean, and traveling with family. As the centerpiece of the family, she set family traditions for generations.

She moved on to be with the Lord on March 5th, 2024, and will be missed. She is survived by her husband Ted, sister Georgia, brother Alex, her kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and cousins. As Grace rests with the Lord, may her memory be eternal.

The family requests donations be made in lieu of flowers to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in her memory.