John James Demetri

John James Demetri, resident of Eastham, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, joined his one and only true love, Lula and their beautiful son, Michael, on the afternoon of 1/15/19. John peacefully passed away surrounded by his family at Cape Cod Hospital at the age of 97. John was born in Webster, MA on 4/23/21 to James Demetri and Lillian Geastas Demetri.

John attended school in Webster, MA and went on to serve in the US Army in Military Intelligence. Honorably discharged in 1946, he began his lifelong journey with his beautiful wife Lula Louvitakis Demetri. Through endless love, hard work, respect and commitment for each other, their 63-year journey enfolded into a lifetime of accomplishments. From 1949 to 1967 they owned and operated the Lenox Spa in Marlboro. They moved to Cape Cod in 1969 where they began the Sandpiper Restaurant. John and Lou knew the true meaning of hard work and soon became well known in Eastham for the delicious food they prepared. After expanding to a new location in Eastham they created Demetri’s Sandpiper Restaurant where many can recall monthly Greek nights with Greek food and dancing.

Johns life was filled with much success because of hard work. His favorite quote that he repeated to every generation that followed his marriage in 1946 was, “Never be afraid of hard work, make hard work afraid of you!” This was instilled in his children, grandchildren and the even in his young great-grandchildren, creating generations of hard-working adults with great work ethics. Thank You Dad and Papou for that. He was a man of great pride in everything important in his life. He was proud of his family and taught his children the true meaning of family and heritage. He was a positive influence in every one of his family’s lives and taught them all values that they would never find in all the books in all the libraries in the world. They are all better people because he loved them. He will be missed but always in their hearts.

John is pre-deceased by his wife of 63 years, Lula Louvitakis Demetri. He is survived by his son James Demetri and his wife Donna of Eastham, his daughter Lillian Arsenault and her husband Tim of Saint Albans Maine, twins - the late Michael Demetri and his wife Janet and Elaine Gremila and her husband Barry of Eastham.

He leaves behind grandchildren Kerry Arsenault of Stetson, Maine, Michael Arsenault of Hampton, Maine, Jamie Rivers and her husband Matt of Eastham, Paul Arsenault and his wife Rebecca of Saint Albans, Maine, Tiffany Krum and her husband Brad of Eastham, Jonathan Gremila and Jamie of Harwich, Tiana Wisemen and her husband David of Hyannis, Timmy Arsenault and his wife Courtney of Saint Albans, Maine, Alana Demetri of Eastham, Jessica Sabatino and her husband Jeffrey of Dennis, Benjamin Arsenault and his wife Ashley of Corinna, Maine and Karina Emery and her husband Dustin of Saint Albans, Maine and his great grandchildren Manny Veara, Michael Arsenault, Griffin Krum, Landon Krum, Jonathan Gremila Jr., Timmy Arsenault, Ella Mae Arsenault, Lyla Rose Arsenault, Dylan, Bryce, and Kaiden Arsenault.

Visiting Hours will be on Tuesday January 22, 4 to 7 PM at Nickerson Funeral Home 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, and a funeral mass on Wednesday January 23, at 11AM at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Rt 28 Centerville. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Johns favorite charity the Pan Mass Challenge c/o Elaine Gremila, PO Box 1025, North Eastham, Mass 02651.

For online condolences please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com