Georgia N. Stavrakis

Georgia N. Stavrakis, née Zavolas, 93, of Union, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 8, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s and heart disease. She was at her home of 40 years, surrounded by her family, at the time of her passing.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 10, from 5–8pm at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. The funeral mass will be held on Monday, July 11, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 721 Rahway Avenue, Union, N.J. with V. Rev. Archimandrite George Nikas officiating. Burial will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union.

Georgia was born on May 23, 1923 in Athens, Greece. Following the untimely death of her mother shortly after childbirth, Georgia was raised by her grandmother, Maria. Georgia, along with her siblings, was raised in their family home in the village of Volada, on the island of Karpathos.

In 1949, Georgia immigrated to the United States with her husband Nicholas. Their first stop was in Whitesville, WV, with brief stays in Brooklyn and Connecticut, before finally settling in Union, NJ, in 1957. Georgia called Union home for 59 years, raising four sons and one daughter there, and being a doting yiayia to her many grandchildren. In all that time, Georgia was a faithful member of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox community.

Although she did not speak English well, Georgia adopted many beloved American customs and tastes. She loved a good slice of cheese pizza (“well done”) with orange soda, peppermint patties, Snickers & Mars Bars, Corn Flakes and “Hoboken cake” - aka rum cake. On TV, she was a big fan of Green Acres, Dynasty and especially I Love Lucy.

Georgia witnessed a lot of change in her lifetime, but the one constant was her love for family. She was a devoted mother and homemaker. Georgia loved a full house and she filled hers with love, music, family, friends, and food. Her door was always open - offering a spare room or meal to countless relatives and friends and welcoming visitors from Karpathos. Her biggest joy came from cooking, baking, and entertaining. She may most often be remembered for her picture-perfect koulouria, delicious rice pudding, and her amazing kourabiedes.

Easter was one of her favorite holidays - when her house filled with the smell of fresh baked goods, lamb roasting in the oven, beautiful red eggs and the sounds of the annual Easter egg hunt. She would get so much joy running around the yard with her grandchildren - but never in the house! - to find the hidden eggs.

She is survived by her children, Michael, Mino & Cory, Tom & Maria, and Fannie & Frixos Vozos - and her 18 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by many more relatives, here and in Greece. She is predeceased by her husband, Nicholas (1978), her granddaughter Katie (1987), her son, Louis (1998) and her daughter-in-law, Sharon (2011).

In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations in her name to be distributed to the following charities: The Greek Children’s Fund of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, of which she was a longtime supporter, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

The traditional Christian Repast meal, directly following the funeral service, was originally intended as a "Mercy Meal," to feed the poor and needy as a way to absolve the soul of the departed.

In lieu of a repast meal (makaria), the family has chosen to make a donation to the Union Food Pantry, of which Georgia was also a longtime supporter. It is their hope that through this donation, many "Mercy Meals" will be provided to families in true need and, in this way, Georgia's memory will continue to be honored.

Say not in grief that she is no more

But say in thankfulness that she was.

A death is not the extinguishing of a light,

But the putting out of the lamp,

Because the dawn has come. - R. Tagore