Tzoylia Tzonihakis

She was born November 15, 1936, in Kalamata, Greece, to the late Panagiotis and Evgenia (Tzamourani) Sousounis.

After leaving Kalamata and settling in Athens, Greece in the 1950’s she met and married Aristidi Tzonihakis, in 1956. Tzoylia was an avid tailor who loved to work with her hands and made much of the family’s clothing.

In 1979, the entire Tzonihakis family, including their two sons, emigrated to the Chicagoland area of the U.S. in search of a better chance at higher educations for John and Nick. A few years later Tzoylia turned her passion into her occupation, working with pearls and semi-precious stones on necklaces, and housed her one-person business in the famed Maller’s building on Chicago’s Jewelry Row from 1985 to 2018.

Tzoylia and Aristidi were also avid ballroom dancers who cherished every opportunity they had to show off their dance skills.

After a long working career in the jewelry industry, and Aristidi’s passing, she retired and after an accident, in 2018 Tzoylia moved to Saint Johns, Florida with her son Nick and his family.

In addition to her parents, Tzoylia is preceded in death, by her husband Aristidi, who died on July 27, 2000, brother Thanasis Sousounis, sister Maria (Sousouni) Pavlopoulos and brother Ioannis Sousounis. She is survived by her son, Dr. John, and wife Maria (Tsaliangos) Jonihakis and their two children, Zoi and Aris Jonihakis, of Plainfield, IL. and her son Nick, and wife Michelle (Devereux) Jonihakis and their two children Gabriel and Noah Jonihakis, of Saint Johns, FL.

The Jonihakis family, would like to acknowledge the care, love and support provided to Tzoylia by doctors, nurses and staff at Baptist Medical Center South and Community Hospice & Palliative Care, of Jacksonville, FL.

A visitation for Tzoylia Tzonihakis will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, 12760 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246. The Trisagion Service will then be conducted at 10:30 AM by Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh. A graveside service will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246. A mercy meal will be held in celebration of Tzoylia Tzonihakis' life at the Legacy Lodge at Oaklawn Cemetery.