Athena Manousakis Proestakis

Athanasia “Athena” Manousakis Proestakis passed away May 17, 2025 at the age of eighty-seven after a short illness. She was born February 11, 1938 to Helen Kournianakis Manousakis and George Emmanuel Manousakis in Malaxa, Crete, Greece. She was the third of nine children.

Athena immigrated to the United States in 1947 with her mother and four of her siblings. Her father and three other siblings a short time later. Her youngest sister was born in the United States. In August 1958, she was introduced by her uncle Mike Kourianos to her future husband Nicholas Alexander Proestakis. They were married at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 16, 1958. At the time of her husband's passing, they had been married nearly sixty-five years. They had three children, Alex, MaryAnn, and Georgette (Vaughn). She was devoted to her religion and loved God. She was an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church community, teaching Sunday School, she was a dance group advisor, and she volunteered at the annual Greek Festival. She enjoyed making Greek pastries and socializing with her friends in preparation of the annual Greek Festival. She was a lifelong member of the Daughters of Minos. She would emphasize to her children and grandchildren the importance of the church, family, their Greek Heritage, kindness, compassion and love. Her children and grandchildren were the light in her life. She enjoyed teaching them about their Greek heritage. Teaching them to cook, especially her kalitsounia and koulourakia. As with most Greek mothers, feeding, cooking, and taking care of her family brought her great joy. The door was always open to anyone that visited. She loved hearing her great granddaughter, Amalia say “Yiayia, I’m a good cooker like you.”

Athena is survived by her children Alex and MaryAnn. Her grandchildren Danielle, Nichole, Andrea, and Andrea (Rob) Jacobsen. Her great granddaughter Amalia and great grandson Max. Her siblings Katherine Zervos, Emmanuel Manousakis, Kostoula Manousakis, Mary Kambouris, Presbytera Zoy (Fr. George) Politis, Fr. Nicholas (Presbytera Kostoula) Manousakis, Sophia (Steve Basset) Manousakis, and Dessie Manousakis. Her in-laws, Paraskeva (Kaliope) Proestakis, Anastasia (Mihali) Piperakis and George Himonas. Many nieces and nephews in the United States, Greece, and Canada. She was preceded in death by her husband Nick, her daughter Georgette, and her son-in-law Vaughn T. Smith. Her parents George E. and Helen K. Manousakis, and her brother Michael “Mitch” Manousakis. Her in-laws, Joseph Zervos, Margie Manouakis, Deno Kambouris, Alexandros Nicholaos and Kyriakoula Proestakis, Alexandra (Angelo) Peperakis, Vasiliki (Haralambos) Daskalogiannis, Antigone (Manoli) Zografakis, Maria (Pavlos) Kanakakis, Emmanual (Maria) Proestakis, Zoi (Mihali)Piperakis and Chris Himonas.

It's hard to believe that she is no longer with us, but we know that she is in a better place. She was a kind and sweet soul. She always enjoyed entertaining, always made sure that her family and guests had plenty of food to eat and never went home hungry. She treated everyone with a soft kindness, and was supportive in every aspect of life. We take comfort in knowing that she is now with the Lord, her husband, daughter, son-in-law, family and friends that preceded her. We take comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering and in pain.

We would like to thank all the doctors and staff that cared for her while she was at St. Marks Hospital and Monument Healthcare Millcreek. They were all kind and compassionate and always treated with dignity and made sure she was comfortable and happy.

A Trisagion will be held Thursday, May 22, 2025 ad 10:00 a.m. with the funeral the same day at 11:00 a.m. The Trisagion and funeral services will both be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah. Internment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, she had requested that donations be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox of Greater Salt Lake at 279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.

May her memory be eternal. We love and miss you!