CYNTHIA ZERVAS

ZERVAS, Cynthia (Speare) 81, longtime resident of Needham and Fox Hill Village in Westwood, died May 1st after a long illness through which her optimism and courage never wavered. She was the beloved wife of the late Frank Zervas and adored sister of Jean Speare Canellos of Weston and her husband George Canellos, and Diane Speare Triant of Wellesley and her husband James Triant. She was a loving aunt to Peter Canellos, Andrew Canellos, George Canellos and his wife Pamela Brown; and to Jeanne Triant and her husband Craig Estes, and Bill Triant and his wife Betsy Herbin-Triant. She was the proud great-aunt of Phoebe, Georgie, Laurel, Solon, Galen, Damian, and Clio. She was a charter founding member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Weston, founding chairwoman of the St. Demetrios Philoptochos Scholarship Committee, and a former member of the Ladies' Committee of the Museum of Fine Arts. A 10-year employee of Liberty Mutual Insurance, she was a graduate of Dana Hall School and Boston Uni- versity, and attended Mt. Holy-oke College. She maintained a warm association with the Zervas School in Waban, which is named for its late principal, her husband, Frank. Her gentle sense of humor, warmth and affection, will always be remembered. A lover of Scrabble, bridge, and poker, she enjoyed summer vacations on Cape Cod and in New Hampshire. She took a keen interest in the activities of all her family members, and was always there to provide a sympathetic ear and a smiling sense of encouragement. Her courage in facing loss and illness was an inspiration to all who knew her, and she never let declining health take away from her robust spirit. She will be deeply, lovingly missed. Visiting hours in the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street, (Rte. 16), WELLESLEY, Sunday from 4-7pm. Funeral Service in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown St., Weston, Monday at 10:30am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the St. Demetrios Philoptochos Scholarship Fund, 57 Brown Street, Weston, MA 02493. For directions & guestbook, visit: gfdoherty.com. George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home Wellesley 781-235-4100