Leona Carantza

Leona (Lee) A. Carantza, age 97, passed away in Jacksonville, Florida, at Community Hospice at Baptist Hospital in the presence of family. She was born in Clairton, Pennsylvania, to her parents Telemachos (Tom) and Limnena (Pauline) Andreadakis who had immigrated from Greece several years before. Lee was the youngest child of a large family.

Lee graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronomics but moved shortly afterwards to Saratoga Springs with her family. In 1952 she met her future husband, the late George Carantza who was in the U.S. Air Force and stationed close to Saratoga Springs; they married in April of 1953. After giving birth to their first child, daughter Paula, in early 1954 she moved a year later with husband George to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. They welcomed the arrival of their second child, son Peter, in late 1956.

A faithful servant of the Lord and member of the Greek Orthodox religion, Lee spent her early married years raising her children and serving at the parish of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church. Lee served in many capacities at the church including PTA president, president of the ladies Philoptochos (friends of the poor) Society and Sunday School teacher. Lee also chaired fundraisers to help provide funds for the building of the church’s Atlantic Blvd. location in the late 1960’s.

Lee loved her family and gave from her heart to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George Carantza, her parents Tom and Pauline Andreadakis and four brothers and two sisters, as well as several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by daughter Paula Del Rio; son Peter and daughter-in-law Betty Carantza; grandchildren Alex Carantza, Jessica Stevenson (Nicholas), Lee Ann Flores (Carlos) and Christopher Del Rio; great grandchildren Leonidas (Leo), Nicholas (Niko) and Penelope Stevenson and Carlos Jr. (AJ), Isabella and Myles Flores.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 AM Friday at the St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, 12760 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida. A grave site service will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd Jacksonville, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Lee’s name to The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund at https://tcjayfund.org. The Jay Fund’s mission is to help families tackle childhood cancer by providing financial, emotional and practical support.

A funeral service for Leona will be held Friday, May 24, 2024 at 10:30 AM at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, 12760 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246.

Pallbearers

Alex Carantza

Chris Del Rio

Nicholas Stevenson

Carlos Flores

Phil Petty

Anthony Megas