MARIA NASSIOS. Marika, as she was known to those many she loved and who loved her, was born in Fragista, Greece on May 6, 1930, to the late George and Ourania Peroulas. As a young girl she lived through World War II and German occupation of Greece, followed by the Greek Civil War and another armed occupation of her village. She later married Constantine "Gus" Nassios, with whom she shared her life for over fifty years until his death in 2004. They began a family in his native Athens, where Marika lived and raised her two sons for many years before beginning a new life in America when she was in her late thirties. When she and Gus arrived in Knoxville, they worked in family restaurants until Gus was able to establish his own restaurant. This was the period in Knoxville history when many restaurants were owned and operated by Greeks. Marika's husband, brother, and several cousins were among those early restaurateurs. Marika ran a traditional Greek home: immaculate, warm, loving, spiritual, and redolent of the aromas of her culinary gift. She was a splendid cook and baker who turned out loaves of bread every week and trays of koulourakia (cookies) nearly as often. Her dedication to her family and home did not interfere with her own independence of mind, however. She was smart and pragmatic, and she liked to laugh. She was perceptive and deeply empathetic. Above all, she was generous, in heart and in deed. She was a devoted member of St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, and took great joy in dedicating many hours of service to her faith community. All in her community and especially her family will mourn her absence in this life and look forward to reunion with her in the next.
Besides her husband, she is preceded in death by brothers, Pavlos Peroulas and Athanasios "Arthur" Peroulas; sisters Eleni "Nitsa" Cavalaris and Martha Tsakas. She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Leslie Nassios and George and Diana Nassios; grandchildren, Maria Nassios Israel and her husband, Cliff Israel, Konstantine "Kosta" Nassios, Anastasia Nassios, and Constantine "Dino" Nassios; sister-in-law Catherine Peroulas, and her best friend and cousin Sophia Tampasis, as well as a host of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Knoxville. The funeral service will be held on Monday, October 22, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, with the graveside service to follow at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.
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