Georgia Karagias

Georgia Karagias, of Wayside, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 14, 2023. Fittingly, it was the Good Friday of Orthodox Easter, which was her favorite holiday. She was born on August 9, 1936 at Fitkin Hospital (now Jersey Shore Medical Center) in Neptune, New Jersey, to Andreas and Aphrodite Karagias, who settled in Asbury Park after immigrating from Tripoli, Arkhadias, Greece. Fluent in both Greek and English from childhood, she went to Bond Street School and then Asbury Park High School.

Georgia also grew up attending St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church with her parents and two sisters, Chrisoula and Margaret. She sang in the choir, but also put her native sense of humor to use portraying funny characters in numerous plays staged by the church’s youth group. From early spring through the fall, she worked in her father’s candy store, the Criterion Tea Shoppe, on 3rd Avenue and the Asbury Park boardwalk.

Georgia was also a talented artist, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Beaver College (now Arcadia University) in Glenside, PA. Afterward, she taught art at Bangs Avenue School in Asbury Park, then later moved to New York City to work with an interior design firm. Painting was a passion, which she would rediscover later in life. She was a skilled gardener with a green thumb, and was particularly fond of raising irises.

In June, 1963, Georgia married John Stamos of Philadelphia. They moved to Wayside, New Jersey and had three daughters, Lisa, Hayley, and Jamie. Georgia also helped manage her husband’s restaurant, One English Lane, for several years.

Her love for art and Greek culture came together in the mid-1970s, when she designed and created a whitewashed Greek village setting for her church’s annual festival. From there, she became involved in researching and designing authentic Greek costumes for the newly-formed Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, who performed most notably at President Reagan’s inauguration in 1981. She also became a “second mom” to many of the young dancers, who found in her a trusted confidante who helped them navigate their way through their teen-year trials.

It was the same at home, with many of her daughters’ friends stopping by not only to visit with them, but also with her. When her middle daughter Hayley was diagnosed with systemic lupus at 18, Georgia made it her mission to do everything she could to bring her back to health, including giving one of her kidneys to her. 

Later, Georgia worked alongside her sister Margaret, helping her to successfully grow her high-end children’s sleepwear line. Her creative talents also extended to needlework, and she was commissioned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, to embroider a tapestry depicting the origins of the game.

In 2000, Georgia suffered a massive heart attack that left her in a coma for six weeks. She fought her way back, baffling the doctors by not only surviving, but also regaining most of her cognitive and motor skills.

With her family by her side, Georgia went on to live another 23 years. In that precious time, she lived to see two grandchildren born and grow into young adulthood. She took several trips abroad, including visits to her beloved Greece. She took up painting again.

Georgia was predeceased by her parents, Andreas and Aphrodite Karagias. She is survived by her best friend John Stamos, her three daughters, Lisa Sperry, Hayley Stamos and Jamie Stamos; her son-in-law Burt Sperry, and grandchildren Alessandra and Zachary; her sisters Chrisoula Lambrakis and Margaret Taylor; brothers-in-law Bill Lambrakis and Robert Taylor; and her nieces and nephews Marina and Rob Margolis, Andrea Lambrakis, Arianna Taylor, Paul Lambrakis and Brandon Taylor. 

She will be greatly missed, not only for her laughter, mischief, sassy comebacks and creativity, but especially for her caring heart and a smile that would light up a room. Rest in God’s loving arms, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, wife, aunt, and friend.We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to her caregivers Flora and Stacy.  We can’t thank you enough for your compassion and patience taking care of our mom.

May her memory be eternal. In lieu of flowers, donations made in her memory may be made to the Kidney Foundation kidneyfund.org or a donation in her name to St. Georges Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean Township.