ELENI PASHALI CONTIS

CONTIS ELENI PASHALI
Of Pittsburgh, PA, on January 18, 2014, at age 95. Loving wife of the late Constantine A. Contis; mother of Alexandra C. Davides (Dr. Kyriakos) and Dr. Lydia Contis (Dr. Athan Georgiades). Eleni was the beloved and devoted Nena to her four grandchildren, Constantine Davides (Lauren) Alexander Georgiades, Christina Davides Tsiatis (Dr. Athanasios) and Jason Georgiades. Born in Athens, Greece in 1918, Eleni worked during WWII as an Italian translator for the US Embassy in Milan, Italy. She met her husband in Athens before the war. They married in 1947 in New York City and shortly after settled in Pittsburgh where they raised their family. She instilled her love of travel, art and museums in her daughters as well as in her grandchildren. She spent every summer in Greece, with side trips to Milan and Florence. By herself, she continued her trips to Greece well into her 90s. Her very last trip there was in 2012 at age 94. Always interested in furthering her knowledge, Eleni enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Italian in her late 70s where she studied both Classical and Contemporary Italian literature. Having made many friends among the students and faculty, she established a scholarship for students who wished to study abroad in Italy. Eleni truly loved the United States and despite having arrived here in 1947 to a dark and smoky Pittsburgh, she grew to adore her adopted city and its transformation, and considered Pittsburgh her true home. Eleni lived life to its fullest and never looked back. May this final journey be her best. Services for Eleni were held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Oakland, and were private according to her wishes. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Cathedral Philoptochos, 419 S. Dithridge St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, 201 N. Bellefield St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Arrangements by JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC.
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