Bessie Maverkos Sfakianos

Bessie Maverkos Sfakianos, 100, fell asleep in the Lord April 24, 2020, at home in Birmingham. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, on January 10,1920, to her parents Foteny and Pete Maverkos. She had three sisters, Mary Maverkos MacDonald, Virginia Maverkos Parker and Helen Maverkos Kambus, all of whom have preceded her in death. She moved to Birmingham in 1941 and married Nicholas Constantine Sfakianos, her husband of 53 years, who preceded her in death. They had four children, but Bessie being so loving and caring, had many others who considered her a mom to them. Her son Peter Nicholas Sfakianos preceded her in death. She is survived by her other children Constantine Nicholas Sfakianos (Johnnie) of Destin, Florida, James Nicholas Sfakianos of Destin, Florida, and Tina Mari Sfakianos of Birmingham.

Bessie had a beautiful way of making all people feel loved in her home. She always welcomed friends and family into her kitchen with love, hospitality and a lot of delicious food, never with a shortness of butter. She had a special way of drawing children to her and making them feel special, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of Bessie’s favorite past times was teaching her great-grandchildren how to make her special recipes, like her amazing loukoumades. She also enjoyed knitting lovely blankets for everyone she knew and even donated them to veterans and seniors.

Bessie is survived by her sister-in-law Clara Sfakianos Miller and her daughter-in-law Jeannie Tatum Sfakianos. Bessie’s surviving grandchildren, who knew her as YiaYia, are Beth Marie Sfakianos Smith (Roy), James Nicholas Sfakianos (Tammy), Dr. Jeffrey Nicholas Sfakianos (Mindan), Nicholas Constantine Sfakianos, Angel Sfakianos Finch (Hunter), Dr. Gregory Peter Sfakianos (Susan), and Wendy Brooke Sfakianos. Her surviving great-grandchildren are Jonathan Roy Smith, Nicholas Hunter Smith, Anna Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, Alexander Kong Sfakianos, Michelle Christine Sfakianos, Sarah Elizabeth Sfakianos, Peter Gregory Sfakianos, Nicholas Jordan Carra, Wells Hunter Finch, Anne Lawson Finch, Holland Sellers Finch, and Fletcher Nicholas Finch. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Elizabeth MacIntosh Garvey, her granddaughter-in-law Julie White Sfakianos and her great grandson Lawson Hunter Finch.

Bessie is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family. She also shared her love with her 25 godchildren, who were each very special to her.

Private services will stream online for Bessie at Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Tuesday, April 28 at 11:00. Graveside to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Due to the concerns surrounding Covid-19, and in compliance with city & county ordinances gatherings of 10 or more are prohibited and social distance is required. Please feel free to add your fond memories and expressions of sympathy on our website, at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Sfakianos family. The service will be live streamed on our Facebook page at 11:00am. Tuesday 4/28/2020 at the church.

The link to watch online is on Facebook; https://facebook.com/RidoutsElmwood/. Search Ridout's Elmwood Chapel then scroll to videos or http//www.holytrinity-holycross.com/livestream.php

Donations can be made in her memory to Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 307 19th Street South Birmingham Alabama 35233.

May her memory be eternal!