Obituary of Helen Pappas

Helen Klapsinos Pappas Helen Pappas, 88, of Erie, PA, passed away on June 27, 2021 in her home, after days spent with loved ones. She was a cherished daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was lovingly known as "Yiayia" to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and anyone who knew her. She was born on January 25, 1933 to George and Angeliki Klapsinos. On June 7, 1953, she married her love, Nick Pappas. She enjoyed being a hostess at The Manor Restaurant, and after graduating from Erie Business School, she worked at Erie Resisters. She was an active member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church for over 70 years, serving as the choir director and member of Philoptochos. She loved meeting up with friends and playing cards at the senior center. She enjoyed watching the horse races (always betting on #3) and spending time at the casino playing the slots. She loved traveling. She was a wonderful Greek baker, making her signature chewrekchia for family and friends, and no one made it quite like her. She had fun watching and participating in "Wheel of Fortune" daily, and also enjoyed watching "The Golden Girls" and Hallmark Channel movies. She was very motherly and caring, and she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Helen was very athletic. In junior high, she was a talented basketball player. She was also a baton twirler. As an adult, she enjoyed playing tennis regularly, swimming (which she taught at the YWCA), and pickleball, nicknamed "the pickleball queen" by her grandchildren. She loved doing power walks, for which she received many awards. She was also a Greek dancing instructor and enjoyed leading dances at the annual Greek Festival. Helen is survived by 3 sons and a daughter; Jim (Mary Beth) Pappas of Johnstown, PA, Stephen (Diane) Pappas of Erie, PA, Mark Pappas of Erie, PA, and Angela (Jon) Husted of Erie, PA, 7 grandchildren; Katrina (Richard Jr.) Leahey, Elaina Pappas, Nick Pappas, Nicolena (Philip) Stuczynski, Marissa (Thomas Blackburn) Husted, Jon Husted, and Marc Mancini, 4 great- grandchildren; Cindel and Richard III Leahey, Haylen and Maximus Stuczynski. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Nick Pappas, her brother Marko Klapsinos, her sisters Van Simon and Mary Ungerman, her grandson Mark Pappas, and her great-grandson Lucius Stuczynski. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. A Trisagion Prayer Service will be held at 7 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Road on Friday, July 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Road, Erie, PA 16505. May her memory be eternal, and may her wisdom and will live on in all those who have come after her.