Kyriaki "Yiayia" Hantzarides

Kyriaki (Kitsa) Hantzarides, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and matriarch, passed away peacefully on May 24 at the age of 94, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Klytos, a small village in Greece in 1931, Yiayia Kitsa’s life was a testament to resilience, love, and strength.

Growing up the youngest of 10, Yiayia Kitsa carried the traditions of her family with her throughout her life. In 1972, she and her husband, Papou George, made the courageous decision to leave Greece and begin a new chapter in New York bringing their four young daughters with them to Tarrytown, where she has been a lifelong resident. They sought a future rich with opportunity and hope, and through hard work, they built a home filled with laughter, tradition, and love.

Yiayia Kitsa was the heart of her family, known for her generous spirit, her devotion to her Greek Orthodox faith, her incredible cooking, and her many passions, including sewing, crocheting, and gardening. Her kitchen was always open—its air filled with a variety of handmade delicacies. She welcomed everyone with open arms and a full plate, making each guest feel like family.

Beyond the kitchen, Yiayia Kitsa connected with her family and friends through the powerful use of her sewing machine. From alterations of all sorts, she was most proud of making uniforms for the youth dancers of the Pontion Society and phelonions for the priest at Prophet Elias. Her legacy inspired the creation of Kiki’s Nation, a small-business owned by her two daughters, where Yiayia Kitsa worked alongside her sister-in-law, Thea Sonia, for many years. They spent countless hours listening to Lelevose, a Pontian radio show from Greece.

Yiayia Kitsa’s mighty presence was most felt within her family. She raised her daughters with deep-rooted values: kindness, perseverance, and the importance of family. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who carry forward her traditions, stories, and unconditional love.

The family is eternally grateful to the following individuals for the loving care provided to their mother in the final years of her life: Lilis Lopez, Taeneil Combs, and Marina Tabagari.

Yiayia Kitsa is survived by her three daughters Sophia Efthalitsides (Gus), Freda Bateman (Albert), and Eleni McClung (Jeff), eleven grandchildren Athena Pallogudis (Steve), Georgia Efthalitsides (Carrie Steers), Joanna Xenos (Dennis), Patty Kyriakides, Katie Kyriakides (and her late husband Rick Boyd), Katrina Bateman, Steve Kyriakides (Anastasia), Alexis Busto (Kyle), Taylor McClung, Demi McClung, and Max McClung, eleven great-grandchildren Melina Boyd, Vanessa Boyd, Ricky Jr, Boyd, Marie Xenos, Chase Steers, Charlie Steers, Eleni Pallogudis, Sophie Xenos, Savannah Busto, Katie Xenos, and Theodore Busto, and many cousins, nieces and nephews both in the U.S. and Greece. She is reunited in peace with her beloved husband Papou George, her daughter Meli Kyriakides (Peter), and with the many family members that she has lost over the years.

Her life will be celebrated at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, located at 15 Leroy Avenue in Yonkers, on Friday, May 30. If you would like to pay your respects, visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., immediately followed by a funeral service. Yiayia Kitsa will be laid to rest at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

May her memory be eternal.