Theodora Pillas Nicholas , August 07, 1937 — January 10, 2019

OBITUARY Theodora Pillas Nicholas August 7, 1937 – January 10, 2019 Theodora “Teddy” Pillas Nicholas, 81, passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2019. Visitation will be on Sunday, January 13, 2019 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with Trisagion prayers offered at 6:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia. Funeral service will be Monday, January 14, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1931 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201.

Burial will be in Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens, Columbia. Born August 7, 1937 in Sumter, SC, Theodora was the daughter of the late Dan and Georgia Pillas. She was a graduate of Columbia College with a degree in English.

After college, she worked at the family restaurant Stadium Steak House with her father and brother. Theodora was an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and of the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, where she served as District Supervisor and later as National Secretary. During her administrative tenure with GOYA, Teddy met and became friends with many GOYANS from across the country.

On one particular trip to Pittsburgh, she met the love of her life, Lee, and was married to him two years later, on Valentine’s Day 1965. Her life became one of business partnership with Lee, and together they operated Lee’s Zesto on Forest Drive and Gregory’s To Go of Saint Andrews. Theodora was always the face of the business, greeting customers by name and gaining new friends over the years.

In her later years, she moved with Lee to Michigan in 1995 to begin a new business venture. She also went back to substitute teaching during this time, reclaiming her first passion for schooling. Upon Lee’s death in 2006, Theodora moved back home to Columbia and began to settle in her next love, her grandchildren.

Her unwavering love and devotion to her husband, children, and grandchildren is her greatest legacy. Left to cherish her memory are her children; daughter, Georgia Nicholas of West Columbia, son Elia (Maria) of Durham, NC; and son Gregory (Wendy) of West Columbia; sister Ann Lempesis of Charleston, grandchildren Greg and Staci Toppi, Noah and Isaac Walton, and Alex Nicholas, all of West Columbia, and Eleni and Demi Nicholas of Durham, NC, as well as many nieces and nephews. The family is especially grateful to the nurses and staff of Lexington Medical Center and Wellmore Rehab, as well as Hospice Medisys.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.

If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.