Stamatia "Stella" Sismani

SISMANI, Stamatia "Stella," passed away peacefully Sunday, October 19, 2008, in Athens, Greece. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late John and Katherine Petropoulos. Stella moved to Greece with her mother and her two brothers, Constantine and Theodoros, in the late 1930s for their graduate and postgraduate studies. On December 25, 1948, she married Dr. Dimitrios A. Sismanis, and they lived in Athens, Greece thereafter. She loved and frequently visited her birthplace, where her daughter, Olympia, was also born in 1951. In addition to her parents, her brothers, Constantine and Theodoros Petropoulos, preceded her in death. She is survived by her loving and caring husband of 60 years, Dr. Dimitrios Sismanis, of Athens, Greece; her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Aristides Sismanis and Dr. Anna Rozaki-Sismani of Richmond; daughter, Olympia Sismani of Athens, Greece; and five grandchildren, Stamatina Marr, Dimitrios, and John Sismanis of Richmond, Constantine and Christina Smirniotis of Athens, Greece; many nieces and nephews. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, whose sweet, caring, and warm personality touched many people's lives. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. Funeral services were held in Athens, Greece on Monday, October 20, 2008, and were attended by the immediate family and hundreds of relatives and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to "Sismanis Endowed Fund," Medical School Development Office, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980022, Richmond, Va. 23298-0022, or to the Massey Cancer Center, 401 College St., Richmond, Va. 23298.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.