Joseph J Sifantonakis

Joseph (Sifi) J. Sifantonakis died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, July 7th, 2018 at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sifi was born in Fres, Apokoronou, Crete on July 10, 1925 to Elpitha and Ioannis Sifantonakis. He grew up in the village and attended Highschool in Vamos, Crete. He served in the Greek National Navy and eventually moved to Chania where he met his wife, Evangelia (Vaggelio) Mitritsakis whom he married in 1951. They had three children before emigrating to the United States and settling with his brother and sister-in-law, Kosta and Elsie Sefandonakis, in 1968. Sifi worked at Ajax Press and then later at Buehner Concrete Company. He enjoyed making wine and tending to his garden, Krevatina (grape arbor), and Sikia (Fig tree). Sifi worked very hard and made sacrifices to give his family every opportunity possible. In his last years his wife cared for him tirelessly - making his daily coffee and kalistounia just as she had done every day of their 67 years together.

He is survived by his three children Elpitha Votsis (Apostolos), Dimitri Sifantonakis (Katina), Maria Katsanevas, and nephew, Jim Sefandonakis (Elenie); eight grandchildren Joy Kapos (Todd), Angie Hillas (Steve), Elpitha Tsoutsounakis (George), Sifi Sifantonakis (Tori), Katerina Butler (Buck), Eva Sifantonakis, Angie Katsanevas, and Yanni Sifantonakis; twelve great-grandchildren Yanni Hillas, John Kapos, Elpitha Kapos, Yanni Paulos, Apostoli Hillas, Elpitha Paulos, Niko Hillas, Vaggeli Tsoutsounakis, Pavli Tsoutsounakis, Isaac Butler, Preston Butler, and Dimi Tsoutsounakis. In Greece he is survived by his sister Irini Maravelakis, sister-in-law Katina Sifantonakis, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by five of his six siblings: Athena Vatsakis, Evangelia Bourbakis, Dimitri Sifantonakis, Andonis Sifantonakis, Kosta Sefandonakis, and his granddaughter Jamie Votsis Paulos.

The family would like to thank Valeo Hospice Care and Right At Home Care for their compassionate assistance in his care over the last several years as well as Wasatch Lawn Memorial for their services.

Friends and family may pay their respects on Wednesday, July 11th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Trisagion at 7:00 pm). Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 12th at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Internment at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family welcomes donations to the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake.