Nicola Varelas "Nicki" Frey

Nicki Frey passed away on June 1, 2022, just a few days before her 86th birthday.
She was born in Kansas City and moved to San Antonio with her parents Nick and Bernice Varelas when she was two. She was soon joined by her sister Jeanne.
She attended Incarnate Word High School and received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Incarnate Word College. While in college, the two Varelas sisters competed in roller-skating competitions and went to nationals several times.
After graduating from college, she was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. Although she only served for a short time, she was a proud Marine for the rest of her life. Nicki married a fellow Marine, Charles Frey, and supported him throughout his career. She was a national finalist for Military Wife of the Year in 1972. She was also a member of the Women Marines Association and Marine Corps League.
Nicki was the proud mother of two children, Michelle and Michael. While they were growing up she was an active volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, youth sports teams and church youth groups. No job was too big or too small if it meant helping her children. She later become a teacher and taught for many years at Rogers Middle School, where she retired in 1998.
Nicki was an active member of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and held leadership roles in Philoptochos and the Daughters of Penelope.
She is survived by her daughter Michelle Gutt and her son Colonel Michael Frey, MD ; grandchildren, Kristina Frey, Michael Frey, Brandon Gutt, Jordan Gutt, Megan Gutt and Kassandra Frey; and great-grandchildren Bruce Frey, Kiera Frey and Emma Frey. She is also survived by her sister Jeanne Coutros, niece J.J. Coutros, nephew Nick Coutros and great-nieces and nephew, Nicole, Izzi and Niko. Many cousins and friends are also left behind to mourn her passing. Nicki never met a stranger and will be missed by all who loved her.
Visitation will take place 5-7 p.m. July 13 at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy., San Antonio, TX 78218. A Trisagion service will take place following the visitation. Funeral services will take place July 14 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 2504 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, TX 78212. Burial will be after the service at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors.
A short reception will take place at St. Sophia's after the burial.
One of Nicki's requests was that everyone wear colorful attire to her funeral. She also asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to Saint Sophia or to the Wounded Warrior Project.