Efstratis Mellekas

Middletown, RI - Efstratia Toula Sologiozy Mellekas, 79, of 22 Willow Avenue, Middletown, RI, died Sunday, April 26, 2009 surrounded by her family at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI.She was the wife of James Mellekas. Born in Pamfila, Mytiline, Greece, on March 30, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Sotirios and Zinovia Katsavelis Sologiozy. Mrs. Mellekas always had a dream to come to America, having lost her parents at a young age. Unable to complete her education due to the outbreak of the war she was extremely determined to continue her education. She arrived in America in 1949 and married James Mellekas. A home-maker who raised five children she eventually earned her GED in 1975. She was an accomplished seamstress and was known as the costume designer for the Helen ONeil School of Ballet. She began a career with Child and family Services, training as a CNA and retired in 1998. Mrs. Mellekas was an active member of St. Spyridon Church, serving as a past president for the St. Spyridon Philoptochos Society, a member of the St. Spyridon Daughters of Penelope, a formidable worker to the success of the churchs annual Hellenic Feast and she received the Ministry Award in June of 2006. She was also a member of the Newport Athletic Club active as a water babe. Toula was dedicated to her family and known for her warmth, compassion and her great cooking, especially her baklava. Besides her husband of 59 years, she is survived by her children, Bessie Christos Paipetis of Athens, Greece, Steven James Mercedes C. Mellekas of Newport, RI, Zinovia Greg Canale of Portsmouth, RI, Sotoria Fred Montanari of Granby, CT and Gregory Maria Mellekas of Newport, RI, her sister Victoria Sfakianos of Birmingham, AL, her grandchildren, Euridice Tsakonos and her husband Nikos, John James Paipetis, John Canale, James Steve Mellekas, James Canale, Elizabeth Montanari, Nicholas Steve Mellekas, James Gregory Mellekas, Efstratia Mellekas, Mercedes Mellekas, Christopher Canale and Asimakis Gregory Mellekas, her godchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins as well as her extended family and friends here and in Greece. She was the sister of the late Stratis Sologiozy and the sister in law of the late Peter Sfakianos.Her funeral will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009, at 10:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a funeral service at 11:00 am in St. Spyridons Greek Orthodox Church, 390 Thames Street, Newport. Burial will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, from 4-7pm in the funeral home. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Spyridons Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 427, Newport, RI 02840.