Helen Palios Kalamaras

Helen Palios Kalamaras (Presbytera) 83 ,of Tampa FL, went home to be with the Lord on February 9, 2023 after a long battle of Alzheimer’s. Helen was born in Tarpon Springs , FL on October 18, 1939 to Michael John Palios and Mary Koulianos Palios. When Helen was an infant, they moved to Tampa where she was raised. Helen attended Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Jr. High School and proudly graduated from HB Plant High School Class of 1958. She was extremely athletic and artistically talented. Helen met the love of her life Samuel (Sam) when her brother John brought Sam home from the seminary for Christmas in 1958. They got married in October 1959 and shortly after Sam was ordained a Greek Orthodox Priest. Helen served next to her husband for over 60 years in many Greek Orthodox Parishes and church communities from Biddeford, Maine to Miami, FL. Helen and her husband started Orthodox Christian Ministries in 1994 and faithfully shared the Gospel while teaching and discipling many in the Tampa Bay area. Helen loved the Lord with all of her heart and loved to get up early and read her Bible to start her day. She was a phenomenal teacher of the Word, and used her gift to even write a couple of her own Bible studies.

Helen often opened up her home to entertain many people and was an amazing cook. A true Southern lady. She was an avid gardener who loved working in her yard. She had a spectacular rose garden and orchid collection. Helen also sold real estate with Tampa Bay Realtors and Smith and Associates. Proverbs 31: “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring praise at the city gates.” Helen was an amazing Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister, YiaYia, Big YiaYia and friend, and will be deeply missed. Helen’s faith remained strong; she left a legacy of faith that will carry on. “ but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint”. Isaiah 40:31

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Father Samuel James Kalamaras, her parents Michael & Mary Palios, in-laws James & Evangelia Kalamaras, son-in-law Nicholas Pappas, brother and sister-in-law John & Artemis Palios.

Helen is survived by her 4 children , Jimmy (Elizabeth) Kalamaras, Mary Kalamaras Pappas, Michael N. Kalamaras, and Angela Kalamaras (John)Spillis . Helen’s pride and joy besides her children were her grandbabies. Nicole Kalamaras (Timothy) Delgado, Eleni Pappas (Anthony) Duke, Melissa Kalamaras (Adam) Stark, Peter Spillis, Samuel (Brianna) Spillis, Nicholas Pappas, Samuel Curtis Kalamaras, Eleni Spillis (Joshua) Layton, and Grace E. Spillis. Her Great Grandbabies are Joshua, Malachi, Caleb, Titus, ToriGrace (Delgado), Madelyn & James (Stark), Mason, Georgia Rae, & Addison Tate (Spillis), Aurora, Yianni on the way(Layton), also survived by her brother George (Julie) Palios. Including many nieces, nephews, and cousins that she cherished and adored!

Pallbearers will be her 8 Grandsons: Peter, Samuel, Nicholas, Curtis, Timothy, Adam, Anthony and Joshua. Visitation will take place on Monday, February 20, 2023 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home on MacDill Avenue from 4-6 pm with Trisagion service at 5 pm. Service will take place on Tuesday, February 21 at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church 2418 W. Swann Ave. Tampa, FL. Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am, followed by the funeral service at 10:30 am. Father Stavros Akrotirianakis officiating. Interment service will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell FL at 1:30 pm, where Helen will be laid to rest next to her husband Sam.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to be made to Hope Children’s Home 11415 Hope International Drive, Tampa FL 33625 in memory of Helen P. Kalamaras https://raisedonors.com/hopechildrenshome/donatefl or to St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in memory of Presbytera Helen Palios Kalamaras https://greekorthodoxchurchtampa.com/donate-online/