Mary Mariakis Kouloubis

Mary Mariakis Kouloubis was born on February 23, 1927 in New Orleans, Louisiana on the second floor of the Napoleon House. She passed away on April 5, 2025 at her home in New Orleans. She was the daughter of Catherine Nenos of Lavrion, Greece and Theodore Mustakas of Greece, later adopted by Nicholas Constantine Mariakis of Alexandria, Egypt. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John F. Kouloubis; her siblings, George Mustakas, Ernestine Mariakis Ruiz, Helen Mariakis Hagan, John Mariakis, Andrew Mariakis, Gus Mariakis; her grandson, John Mailhes; and her Aunts and Uncles, Tony, Mildred, and Gus.

She is survived by daughters, Konstantina “Tina” Kouloubis Mailhes (Kraig), Katherine Kouloubis Williamson (Adrian), and Eleni “Helen” Kouloubis Myers (Charles Buff); son, Frank John Kouloubis (significant other, Darlene Clausing); grandchildren, Adrian Williamson IV (Emily), Jonathan Kouloubis Williamson (fiancée, Emily Ray), Alexander “Alex” Mailhes, Stephen Mailhes; and numerous nieces and nephews.

After she was born, Mary initially lived at Napoleon House on Dumaine. At age 20 her family moved to Royal Street. Mary attended Colton Grade School and graduated from Nicholls High School. After high school, she attended Spencer Night School and began working as a typist and receptionist at several New Orleans law firms, one being Deutsch, Kerrigan, and Styles, and she was recognized as one of New Orleans most beautiful employed women.

Mary was very athletic, outgoing, and attractive. At age 10 she had a small part in the “Our Gang Comedy” movie. She enjoyed outdoor activities and excelled at Track and Field competitions. At age 20 she won Miss New Orleans for the New Orleans Athletic Club. In 1950 she won another local Beauty contest. She was very popular at parties and she loved to dance. Her early social life revolved around a “Working Girls Sorority” (Social club). This is where she met people and went to dances at the Roosevelt Hotel in the Blue Room, she especially loved dancing to Dean Martin. She also enjoyed going to the Sazerac Room.

In 1953 she met the love of her life, John Kouloubis, who was in the Greek Air Force and was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi for radar training. They began attending church together at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans on N. Dorgenois St., where they were married on October 31, 1953. The family grew with the birth of Konstantina in 1960, Katherine in 1961, Helen in 1963, and Frankie in 1965.

In 1977, they moved to Metairie from New Orleans and were members of the Pontchartrain Shores Civic Association, and they won garden of the month numerous times with Baba’s help in gardening.

John and Mary had a busy and enjoyable life together. They were very active in the Greek church where she was a member of Ladies of Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope. She was also an active member of Holy Rosary Grammar School where she was a member of the PTA and involved in many festivals at the school. She was involved in the local Greek Festivals, where she conducted tours of the church. They enjoyed entertaining their many friends and family in their home; she learned to cook many delicious Greek foods and desserts (especially baklava) in Greece, which were made at many Name Day parties at their house in their extended den. She went to Lynda’s Beauty Parlor every Friday, and afterwards she would bring her children to see her beloved mother on Royal St. She loved shopping with her daughter, Helen, at Gus Mayer’s, Lillie Rubin, and Dillard’s and going to Saks with her daughter, Kathy, and always told her daughters to put their lipstick on. She loved helping her daughter, Konstantina, with caring for her grandchildren in Metairie and she greatly enjoyed her many visits to Arkansas to see her other grandchildren. She traveled with her husband, Johnny, many summers to Greece while others watched his TV business. She adored her only son, Frank, who would also do anything for his lovely mother and loved her dearly

Mary loved her family and she was instrumental in raising their children with angelic love. Mary was the bedrock of support for her husband and her children throughout their lives. She loved children and was a beloved “Yiayia” to her grandchildren and any child that she encountered. Friends and family were the most important aspects of her life. She never met a stranger and she lived life to the fullest and always with a smile and dressed elegantly. While she will be missed, Mary Kouloubis leaves us with a lifetime of wonderful memories and an irreplaceable legacy of beauty, love, and compassion.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation, Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA from 10:00 am until 12:00pm. At 12:30pm there will be a funeral service held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1200 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA. Entombment will follow at in St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, New Orleans, LA. After the entombment, there will be a Makaria back at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.