Dorothy Mae Bush, 79, of Tampa passed into peaceful rest on June 14, 2018. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James and is survived by two loving daughters Georgia Vrionis (Frank), Marguerite Pitsikoulis (Mike); brother, Harvey D. Parton; sister in law, Maria Triantafyllopoulos; six adoring grandchildren, Nick (Chelsea), Stephanie, Gregory, Alexa, James and Andrea; two beautiful great-grandchildren, Andi and Bennett and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Dorothy, as meek and mild as she appeared to most, had the strength and spirit of a lioness, and she defied all odds in everything she did. After having graduated high school in rural Alabama, she courageously forged out on her own to the big city of Chicago, where she would meet a Greek immigrant named Dimitrios Bousounis (James Bush) who would become her partner and the love of her life. Over the years and through the many restaurants and hotels that they together owned, she toiled away by her husband’s side; no task was beneath her and no one could match the discipline, strength and perfection that applied to all she did. Nothing however surpassed the devotion, drive and effort that she showed in raising her family. There too she was a tireless soldier, taking no short-cuts in the meticulous preparation of meals, and keeping an orderly and spic and span home. Above all, she was an extraordinary mother who raised her daughters with a firm, but loving hand and grounded them with the principles of hard work, honesty, dedication and love of family. She was also a decades long, dedicated servant to her St. John’s Church family, who always remained close to her heart. While these were her life’s works, her greatest life’s reward and love, was her six adoring grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who knew her as “Yiayia”. She was an ever present figure in their lives from the time they were each born—cooking for them, babysitting for them, traveling with them on trips, relishing their school accomplishments and always, always—loving them. She was their staunchest fan in the stands at every athletic event she could attend, their playful companion and their fiercest protector. As they grew and traveled off for school and work, she always kept her finger on their pulse—calling, texting, sending Facebook messages and sharing pictures and news of their lives. Nothing could match the sparkle brought to her beautiful blue eyes as seeing or hearing from one of her grandchildren or precious little great-grandchildren. And the love that she gave to them was returned ten fold by that which they felt for her. Their unrelenting love, support and contact with her, particularly during her time of illness, was her life’s support system. Words cannot express the depth of loss that her departure brings us; however, we will remain bonded in our love for her and cherish the trove of memories that she left for us in her wonderful life. May her sweet soul rest in peace and may her precious memory be eternal. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20 at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave., with a Trisagion service beginning at 7:00. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 21, at St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 W. Swann Ave. and interment will follow at Garden of Memories in Tampa.
