Peggy Athansen Touris fell asleep in the Lord February 7, 2019 at the age of 87. Peggy, or Mimi as she was known to many, was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and recently great-grandmother. Her family brought her great joy and she was truly at its heart.
She schooled them in the Greek traditions, to make Greek food and above all taught them the faith and to love their heritage. She was godmother and surrogate godmother to many and felt it was truly one of the greatest honors. She took on the role as she did that of mother, with great love and devotion.
Her faith was at her core and she worked tirelessly for the church and faith that she loved both in Youngstown and later in Columbus. She wore many hats over the years from Sunday school teacher, youth group advisor, organist & choir member to Parish Council board member. One of her greatest joys was running the bookstore which gave her the opportunity to teach visitors about her beloved Orthodox faith.
She was deeply schooled in the faith reading countless books and attending many studies and retreats over the years. Brining the faith to the young in their own language was a passion of hers and she worked to transcribe music into English. She attended many choir conventions always seeking to find new arrangements for the liturgy.
She and her husband Tom loved singing in the choir and with friends who shared their love of music and song formed a Madrigal group entertaining others with Greek folk songs. Peggy had many other passions as well. Gardening brought her great joy and she kept journals detailing the growth of her flowers and evolving gardens.
She was an accomplished pianist and loved travelling, especially to Greece to see her beloved family. She loved opening her home to friends and entertaining whenever possible. She hosted many events and showered many brides and couples over the years.
There was usually an extra person or 2 at most holiday dinners. Someone who had no family or a student away from home. She welcomed all and consequently had a wealth and variety of friends both old and new.
Facebook brought her a whole new world of friends, young and old, and she loved keeping up with them. She sought out and found relatives as far away as Madagascar and France and reveled in her new relationships. She was feisty and a force to be reckoned with and drew people to her.
She lived her life fully and with joy and will be dearly missed by many. Peggy was born January 26, 1932 in Neville Island, PA to Demetrios and Irene (Stavrinedes) Athanasen and lived most of her life in Youngstown. She graduated from South High School and later St. Elizabeth School of Nursing.
She worked as a visiting nurse in Youngstown and at a hospital in Pittsburgh while her husband attended dental school. Returning to Youngstown, she raised her children retiring with Tom to Columbus to be nearer to them. Peggy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dr. Thomas J. Touris, daughter Marie (Bidgie) Touris, brother George Athanasen and sister Polly Stevens.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Renee Touris Sudimack and Jaimee Touris, sons John (Joyce) Touris and Mark (Kyla) Touris, grandchildren Matthew Sudimack, Rachel (John) Cullerton, Andrew (Justina) Sudimack, Tom Touris, Alec Touris, Aaron Touris, Zoe Touris, Lauren Touris and great granddaughter Ella Cullerton. It was God’s final blessing that she was able to meet Ella before she passed. Peggy is also survived by her brothers John and Steve Athanasen, countless relatives here and abroad and many godsons, goddaughters and beloved friends.
Friends will be received on Monday, February 11th at the Fox Funeral Home, 4700 Market St. Boardman, OH. from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Trisagion service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friends will also be received on Tuesday February 12th from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. immediately followed by the funeral at St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 4955 Glenwood Ave. , Boardman, OH.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 4955 Glenwood Ave, Boardman or Ohio or Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. The family wishes to thank all who have offered prayers and love on her behalf. We pray for her blessed repose now.
May her memory be eternal. ‘For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ’ Family and friends may visit www.
foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and send condolences.
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