The Falling Asleep of Julia Zakinthinakis Pappas
It is with sadness, but with hope in the resurrection, that we inform you that our beloved sister in Christ, Julia Zakinthinakis Pappas, has fallen asleep in the Lord.There will be a graveside service for family and friends on Wednesday, March 6th at 11am at Forsyth Memorial Park with Reverend Father George Kouzelis and Reverend Father Constantine Shepherd presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103; or Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, online by clicking here, 435 Keating Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27104. Online condolences may be made at salemfh.com. May God comfort her family and May her memory be eternal.
Julia Zakinthinakis Pappas
May 15, 1925 - March 2, 2024
Julia Zakinthinakis Pappas, 98, passed away peacefully and gracefully on March 2, 2024, at Kate B. Reynolds Hopice Home after several days with family and friends by her side. Julia was born May 15, 1925, in Athens, Greece to the late Manousos and Smyro Zakinthinakis. She grew up in Chania, Crete and her father, a World War II military leader, fought the Nazi invasion of Greece. In 1947, she came to the United States to visit relatives and married Christ Michael Pappas, the love of her life. Julia was a generous, devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, godmother, and a friend to many. A joy of her life was to be a grandmother and great grandmother, celebrating every special occasion with love, welcoming arms, and delicious food. To be in her presence was to experience a unique and magical warmth that made friends family, and brought family closer.
Julia was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. She was active as a Philoptochos Society Member, a philanthropic organization where she served as local chapter President twice. Julia was a Sunday school teacher and for over 40 years, served as chair of the Epitaphios committee that decorated the tomb of Christ with flowers for Easter services. For many years she joyfully baked and worked at the Greek festival. Julia joined with members of her church to provide breakfast meals for pre-school children before such government programs began. Her marriage to Chris Pappas, a descendant of one of the founding fathers of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, resulted in a lifelong dedication to Christian service.
Julia shared her extraordinary talents without bounds. She was a master gardener and shared the bounty of her vegetable and flower gardens for decades. She was a skillful artisan whose fabric art included sewing, knitting, quilting, and embroidery. Her cooking was an expression of love, as anyone that ever enjoyed a seat at her table could attest. Julia’s athletic ability filled her shelves with golf and bowling trophies, and her card-playing was legendary (particularly at the duplicate bridge table). She was an avid supporter of the YMCA and enjoyed all water activities at the place she called her spa. She was a woman of the world, traveling far and wide – winters in a bungalow on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, traversing New Zealand in an RV, and countless other adventures – and spoke several languages.
Julia is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Christ Michael Pappas; her son-in-law, Jones Pharr Byrd, Sr.; her brothers Nikos and Julius Zakinthinakis; her brother-in-law, Sam Pappas; her sisters-in-law, Ann Pappas, Virginia Pappas Christou, and Christina Zakinthinakis; her nephew Michael Pappas; and her dear friend, Athena Gallins.
Julia is survived by her daughter, Sandra Pappas Byrd; her grandchildren who call her Yaya, Jones Pharr Byrd Jr. (Whitney) and Julia Isobel Byrd (Joe Dukes); and her great grandchildren who adore their GG, Anna Alexandra Byrd and Macie Virginia Byrd. She is also survived by her brother, George Zakinthinakis; sister-in- law Christina Zakinthinakis; niece Karen Pappas (Mike Giles); Nephew Manos Zakinthinakis (Nicoletta), great nephews George and Nikos Zankinthinakis; nephew Nick Zakinthinakis and children; great nephew Chris Pappas (Caroline) and daughter Michal Claire; great nieces Alex Komar (Pete) and Nicole Pappas (Ray); Soo Pappas; and a host of dear friends especially Rose Kroustalis and Yvonne Fus. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Judy Hopkins, Dr. Van Williamson, the doctors, nurses' staff and volunteers at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home for their thoughtful, kind and personal services and to special caregiver, Tonya Truesdale.
