Estelle Sakelakos

SALEM — Estelle Sakelakos, 59, of Salem, died Sunday evening, June 7, 2009 at the Sutton Hill Center in North Andover following a courageous battle with breast cancer.

She was born in Salem on April 29, 1950 the loving daughter of the late Samuel "Buddy" and Anne (Tilas) Sakelakos and had resided in Salem. She had attended St. Chrietienne's Academy in Salem and later graduated from St. Coletta's School for Exceptional Children in Hanover in 1966.

She had worked with her family at their Berry's Variety store in Peabody for over 20 years. Later she was employed at the Burger King restaurant in Danvers and later in Beverly prior to her illness, she had been enrolled at Catherine's Adult Health Program in Salem. Estelle enjoyed traveling and went on a cruise to Greece. She was gifted in arts and crafts and had been a Sunday School Assistant at St. Vasilios Church.

The family is appreciative to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation of the North Shore, the Morgan Memorial Industries in Beverly and the Till organization (toward independent living). During her illness she was helped and given great emotional support and care by the Merrimack Valley Hospice program and the staff of the Sutton Hill Center.

She is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Joyce Sakelakos-Kaufman and her husband Mark Kaufman of Merrimac; two nephews and a niece, Jason and Jonathan Kaufman and Sarah Kaufman, all of Merrimac; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and loving friends.

ARRANGEMENTS: A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 12 noon. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, West Peabody. For directions and guestbook, visit www.ccbfuneral.com.