Efegenia Topouzoglou

Efegenia Topouzoglou, 90, affectionately known as “Effie”, former longtime resident of Pittsfield, NH, passed away on May 3, 2025, in Belmont, MA surrounded by family. As a first generation American, she was born on November 6, 1934, in Cambridge MA to her late parents, Eleftherios and Catherine (Mastrakoulis) Rozakis. Effie was raised and educated in Somerville, MA, graduating from Somerville High School with the Class of 1953. Believing in the value of a secondary education, she received her associates degree from Burdett College. After her husband, the late John Topouzoglou, emigrated to the United States from Greece in 1956, they were wed in a simple ceremony in 1958. While living in Somerville, she worked as a secretary at Mt. Auburn Hospital and Boston Lying In Hospital.

To get away from the city, they moved to Deerfield, NH and then settled in Pittsfield, NH, to raise their family. She and her husband owned and operated Tops Garage and Convenience Store for decades and, later in life, she worked for Pittsfield Weaving Company enjoying the camaraderie of her coworkers. She was an active parishioner at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Concord where she was involved in many activities of the parish, including the women’s Philoptochos club, a philanthropic organization. Effie, firmly held conviction that community service was very important, was a member of many civic activities in Pittsfield, from being a long-time member of the school board, including serving as chairwoman, and a booster for local athletic teams. She was a devoted fan of all Boston sports but never missed a Red Sox game. Effie also enjoyed the simpler pleasures in life; gardening, enjoying a good book, sharing a meal with family and friends and especially spending time with her grandchildren. Effie was a selfless woman who would often help those who were less fortunate than herself, and will fondly be missed, cherished, and loved by all.

Effie, the beloved matriarch of her family, is survived by her four children: her daughter, Harriet Degou and her husband David of Burlington, MA, her daughter Catherine Topouzoglou of Melrose, MA, her son Andrew Topouzoglou and his wife Heather of Derry, NH, and her son Terry Topouzoglou and his wife Jennifer of New Boston, NH. She was the dear grandmother to John Degou, Marie Degou, Sophie Topouzoglou, Elena Topouzoglou, Andrew Topouzoglou, Grace Topouzoglou, Hannah Kingston and Sam Kingston. Effie is also survived by her sister Irene Botsolis of Braintree, MA, and her brother Isithoros “Ritchie” Rozakis and his wife Anthoula of Somerville, MA, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband who passed in November 2018, she was preceded in death by her son George Topouzoglou and her brother-in-law Asimakis “Mike” Botsolis.

Visitation for Effie will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025, from 4 – 8 PM at the Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord. Friends and family are cordially invited to attend. Please arrive at the funeral home at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 10, 2025, so a funeral procession in Effie’s honor can proceed to her funeral service, which will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 68 North Street, Concord. Interment to follow at Floral Park Cemetery, 30 Barnstead Road, Pittsfield, NH. Please consider a donation in Effie’s memory to either the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 68 North Street, Concord, NH 03301 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741. Arrangements under the direction of the Bennett Funeral Home.