Ann Vagias Kotsalis

Ann Vagias Kotsalis, 87, fell peacefully into eternal sleep on July 4, 2016 surrounded by her family. Ann, a first generation Greek American, was born in Vandergrift, PA to John and Helen Vagias. She graduated from Vandergrift High School in 1948. Her love of the Greek Orthodox faith and traditions found her actively involved in the church. She met her future husband, Paul N. Kotsalis, at a Greek dance in Pittsburgh. They married on June 11, 1950 and moved to Johnstown, PA where they built a large home improvement center, decades before the trend. Ann thrived working in the parish of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. But, after the icy bunkers of Bastogne during WWII, Paul dreamed of a warm climate. In 1961 Ann again helped her husband successfully build the first home remodeling company in Cape Coral, FL. The one thing missing from their life was church. The nearest was in Miami. So Ann and her husband invited a few Greek friends to their offices, and working tirelessly those few grew in numbers to become the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Ann was appointed as the first President of the Ladies Philoptochos Society, a philanthropic organization, by the Rev. Fr. Arthur Kontinos. In 1993 His Eminence Alexios of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Atlanta bestowed upon her the honored titles of Anadachos and Benefactor.

Ann enjoyed many hobbies but her passion was the game of bridge. Ann also loved playing golf on the Women’s League at Cape Coral Country Club. She served as President of the Cape Coral Rotary Anns.

She is survived by her children, Helene K. (Robert) Boucher, Nicholas P. (Brandi) Kotsalis, her Grandchildren, M. J. Boucher, Stephen (Brittany) Boucher, Alex Kotsalis, Mathew Kotsalis and Great-Grandsons Andrew Boucher and William Boucher, sisters Evangeline (Mike) Lemonakis, Dee (Don) Hughes and many nieces and nephews.

Ann is predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Paul, their infant son, John and her parents.

Memorial donations may be made in her honor to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 8210 Cypress Lake Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33919. Her family deeply thanks Life Path Hospice, 12470 Telecom Drive, Temple Terrace, FL 33637 for their care.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, Brandon, Fla. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 8210 Cypress Lake Drive, Ft. Myers, Fla. The family will receive friends Saturday from 9 a.m. until service time at the church. Interment is in Coral Ridge Cemetery in Cape Coral.