Rosaly Hope Matiatos

Lola Matiatos

Norfolk - Rosaly (Lola) Hope Matiatos, fell asleep in the Lord May 31, 2015, befittingly on Pentecost Sunday. A native of the island of Cephalonia, Greece, she was the daughter of the late Peter and Anna Kambetsis. In 1949, she crossed the Atlantic to Norfolk via the Marine Carp, a converted troop ship, at the request of her father, a U.S. Merchant Seaman, who had been separated from his family by the War. Fate brought her together again in Norfolk with her childhood sweetheart, Zachary, A.K.A. "Jack Greenie," original owner of Greenie's Restaurant in Ocean View. Mrs. Matiatos was preceded in death by her beloved husband after 58 years of marriage.

Mrs. Matiatos' family was her world and her "raison d'être." Hers was a life well-lived in the shadows. She never wanted to diminish the bright light that shone on her family by claiming any for herself. She was loyal to a fault, a great storyteller and mimic, a wicked wit and lover of fashion. Along with these dear memories, her family members are left with examples of her beautiful crochet handiwork that she so tirelessly executed until failing eyesight prevented her from continuing.

She is survived by her three daughters, Susan Anna Matiatos of Norfolk, Joann Grindstaff and her husband Richard of Chesapeake, Maria Hunter and Peter Zink of Virginia Beach, three grandchildren; Alexis James and her husband Donnie, Mimi Hodnett and her husband Barry and Zachary Hunter, four great-granddaughters; Adelaide, Rosalia (Lola), Melina and Evangelia, her brother Louis Kambetsis and his wife Elizabeth of Norfolk; niece and nephew Anna and William Wilson and their children Elise and Will, much loved cousins Kornelia K. Foster and her husband Dr. Richard W. Foster of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and their children, Nicholas, Katherine and Stephanie, spouses and children, as well as many loving cousins in New York, New Jersey and Greece and forever in her heart, Dr. Kenneth S. Hunter of Pacific Grove, California.

A Trisagion prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk Chapel. The funeral will be held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 3 with Rev. Father George Bessinas and Rev. Protopresbyter Constantine Rogakos officiating. Burial will take place at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk.

Memorial donations may be made to the Welfare Fund of the Philoptochos Society or Kefalos Society-Charitable Projects both at 7220 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at hdoliver.com