Sylvia L. Goulatis

Strengthened by the love of God and surrounded by her family, Sylvia L. Goulatis peacefully passed into eternal life on February 10, 2010.

Youngest child and only daughter of Kondelia (Connie) Vetas and Constantine (Gust) Vlahon, she was born on August 23, 1932 in North Platte, Nebraska, a small hamlet nestled between the North and South Platte Rivers along the Union Pacific Railroad line. A few years later, North Platte would become well known for its “North Platte Canteen” – a place where residents offered baskets of foods and heartwarming conversation to six million homesick soldiers who passed by rail through the town on their way to European and Pacific WWII battlefields.

As the Great Depression deepened in the early 1930’s, relatives banded together. So too was the case for Sylvia, who by the age of three found herself traveling east to Massachusetts with her mother to join family living in Lawrence. Later, she resided in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, before moving to Portland. As many in those days, she was a “latch-key kid,” returning to an empty house after school since everyone in the family was working to make ends meet. She occupied her time with window-shopping, in later years, piano playing, and on occasion cooked her favorite – buttermilk pancakes. Years later, she would recall with glee the afternoon she flipped those flapjacks a bit too zealously, only to find them stuck to the ceiling…a matter which took a bit of explaining when her mother returned home!

From 1947 through1950, Sylvia was a Transit Department Administrator at the First Bank of Portland, processing thousands of checks daily. A member of the Deering High School Class of 1950, “Syl” was involved in Student Council, a member of the Archery Club, and followed Deering High School football with a passion. In the winter of 1951, at the home of her mother and stepfather, the late Connie and Harley Vetas of Portland, she met Loucas D. Goulatis of Amfiklia, Greece who was then serving with the Greek Embassy in Washington, D.C. A two-year courtship began with a romantic walk in Deering Oaks, and culminated in a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding in June of 1953. The couple moved to Washington for a short period of time, and eventually returned to Portland to begin a family.

For twenty years, Sylvia dedicated her efforts to raising a family. She instilled in her children love of God, compassion for those less fortunate and an eagerness to serve others. In 1974, when her youngest child reached school age, she returned to work as a Senior PBX operator for Sentinel Answering Service of Portland. With a pleasing telephone voice, a sense of humor, and a gift for gab, she was a sure-fire hit with clients. For over 13 years Sylvia provided telephone answering support to over 200 physicians, local business, and the Portland Harbor Master relaying messages from captains to tug boats and back. From 1987-1990, she worked as a reception secretary at the Deering Center Office of William F. Schirmer, M.D.

Known as “Mrs. G” (with a license plate to match!), Sylvia served as a reader, greeter and dedicated Sunday school teacher and Christmas pageant director for generations of students at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Portland. Recognized for her creativity and ingenuity, she lovingly offered her talents at all times, especially during the Easter season, designing, and fashioning adornment for the “Epitapion,” the representation of the Holy Sepulcher. In 1999, the Greek Orthodox Archdioceses of Boston honored Sylvia with the Clergy Laity Award for her faithful contribution as a communicant of the Holy Trinity Church.

She loved chocolate....lots of chocolate. However, nothing could shadow the love she had for her grandchildren Arianna, Katie and Michael who were the light of her life. Eager to please, “Yiayia” could often be found making three entrées all at the same time to satisfy the individual taste of each child. She filled her home with toys and games, delighted in trips to museums and amusement parks, and faithfully took her grandchildren to Greek School to learn the riches of the language and history of their heritage.

Formerly of Capisic and Tremont Streets in Portland, Sylvia was a member of the Park Danforth community for a brief period before moving to Falmouth by the Sea in 2007. With a winning smile for those who cared for her, Sylvia enjoyed outings and activities - especially jaunts to local restaurants - and of course...more chocolate.

She was a member and Past President of the Daughters of Penelope, and the Holy Trinity Ladies Guild, Holy Trinity Choir, and spent countless hours over the years baking traditional Greek pastries, breads, and other scrumptious delights for the annual Portland community Greek Festival.

Predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Loucas D. Goulatis, infant son, and brothers John and Nick Blackos, she is survived by her children Constance (Connie) Goulatis of Cape Elizabeth, Aphrodite (Freda) Goulatis of Windham, James (Jamie) Goulatis and his wife Bonnie of Portland; grandchildren Arianna and Kathryn (Katie) Goulatis and Michael Giglio of Portland; godson Frank and his wife Nicolette Yattaw of Scarborough and goddaughters Acacia and Elaine (Leveris) Fitts; sister-in-laws, Popee Blackos of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Eleni Goulatis of Amfiklia, Greece, and nephews: Gus Blackos and Tom Blackos both of Nebraska, John Blackos of Texas, and Chris Blackos of Florida; and two half-sisters Angie Milroy of North Platte, Nebraska and Maria Fleece of Beatrice, Nebraska.

Sylvia's family would like to extend deepest appreciation to Dr. Richard Marino and the entire staff of Falmouth by the Sea, for the friendship, compassion and loving care they generously gave Sylvia, and the assistance and support they always offered to her family. Heartfelt thanks are also offered to Sylvia's long-time roommate Mrs. Christine Pistaki and her daughters Pat Marshall, Nancy Chard and Judy Zelisko for their many acts of kindness and generosity over the years.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home Monday, February 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. where the Trisagion will be held at 6:30 p.m. A funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 16 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant St., Portland. Burial will follow in Forest City Cemetery in South Portland.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Sylvia's memory to the Center for Grieving Children, P.O. Box 1438, Portland, ME 04104 (online at www.cgcmaine.org) or a charity of choice. The Center for Grieving Children's mission is to provide loving support to grieving children, teens and families through peer support, outreach, and education.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Sylvia’s guest book.

Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home

199 Woodford St.

Portland, ME 04103

207-775-3763