Mary Tomasides

Our beloved Mary Tomasides, extraordinary wife, mother, Yiayia and friend passed away on the evening of December 26th, 2014. She was surrounded in love by those she loved most: her husband, children and grandchildren.

Born in 1931 in Syracuse, New York to Greek immigrant parents, she was the youngest of four daughters. She graduated from Cortland State Teacher’s College in 1953 and immediately began her career as a teacher. On her 21st birthday she accepted a “blind date” with a young college student named Chris Tomasides, and in 1955 they were married and spent the next 59 years hand-in-hand.

As an elementary school teacher, Mary influenced the lives of many children throughout the world. Among her most treasured years as a teacher were those at Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston, from 1983-1986. During the decades that followed, it wasn’t uncommon for her former students to see her and greet her with the warm recognition a child saves for their most cherished teachers.

Mary left her handprints far beyond the classroom and throughout the world, as Chris’s international work took them all over, including countries such as Greece, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman and Cambodia. Never intimidated by a challenge, they looked at each opportunity as an adventure to learn and possibly help people in an underdeveloped country. While in Sri Lanka, Mary taught until she turned 60 and local law dictated retirement. Faced with this hurdle, she felt God opened an even greater window for her and she helped start a school for refugee children in the capital city of Colombo. Her generosity, kindness and affinity for the Sri Lankan community were reflected in the many people who would stop and greet her in the street as she went about her day.

Mary was an avid reader, and also drew great joy from her love of music. She had a beautiful voice and sang in many choirs throughout her life, including for the church. Through recent years, she continued to sing the church’s hymns, and always responded to them with a faithful smile or by making the Sign of the Cross. Her great faith in God has set a profound example for her family and others, showing us that the teacher in her prevails. Upon learning of her illness, Mary said, “We will do our best and leave the rest to God.”

Mary is the loving mother of three grown children, Pam, Valerie and Harry. She is survived by Chris and their children and families: Pam & Jim Gaspar, Andrea & Christine; Valerie and Fr. Dean Kouldukis, Christopher, Constantine & Elissa; Harry & Christine Tomasides, Demitra and Marika, and her wonderful sister Harriett Ganatsiou.

We are thankful for the people God has placed in our lives through Mary’s Alzheimer’s, from the staff at the Amazing Place to the amazing staff at Colonial Oaks to the beautiful men, women and caretakers who have graced our lives throughout the past ten years.

We will miss Mary greatly, but take comfort in knowing that her love will always be with us, that we will always find it in each other and that through this legacy of love, she will always be at peace.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully asks to please consider a donation to the International Orthodox Christian Charities.

https://iocc.org/giving/giving_memorialgifts1.aspx