Artemis Pyros

How Artemis wanted it:

KINGSTON — Artemis Pyros, of Kingston, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016.

She was born in Scranton, the daughter of the late James and Mary Sfarnas Veras. She was a graduate of Dunmore High School and Marywood College, and subsequently was a business teacher at Blue Ridge High School in New Milford.

Artemis was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Penelope Veras and her husband, Nicholas Pyros.

She is survived by her son, Gregory Pyros, of Mexico; her son, Jeffrey and his wife, Theresa Pyros, of Shavertown; her daughter, Karen Pyros, of Shavertown; six grandchildren, Alia and husband, Benjamin LeCam, Alyssa Pyros, Christian Pyros, Demetra Szatkowski, Damon Szatkowski, and Talia Szatkowski, all scattered across the country; her sister, Cleo Marantis and her husband, Zachary, of Harrison, N.Y.; her brother, Democritos James Veras and wife, Patty, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

How her son rewrote it:

(I'm sorry Mom, but I warned you I was going to do this.)

Artemis Pyros was born on Nov. 2, 1926, although she religiously scratched out the year on her driver's license so no one would know her age, "It is none of their business how old I am."

She was the second daughter born to James and Mary Veras, of Dunmore, where her father was the founder of the world famous Dunmore Candy Kitchen. Artemis, or Artie as she was known, grew up in Dunmore and with her siblings, Penelope, Cleo, and Democritos (better known as Sonny), spent many long happy hours in the Candy Kitchen making candy, waiting tables, and scooping ice cream. In fact, she always bragged that her right arm was much stronger than her left as that was the arm with which she scooped the ice cream.

After graduating from Dunmore High School in 1944, Artie attended and graduated from Marywood College in 1948 with a teaching degree in English. She taught business English at Blue Ridge High School in New Milford until she met Nicholas J. Pyros at a Greek convention in the early 1950s. They were married in a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony on June 14, 1956, and remained happily married for 58 years until Nick's untimely death in early 2015. Artie did not stop teaching English with her marriage, however, she was happy to instruct and correct her three children, Gregory, Jeffrey and Karen; Jeffrey's wife, Theresa; and her six grandchildren on proper grammar and spelling for the rest of her life.

As her family and friends would gladly attest, Artie could be as stubborn as a mule and as bossy as a blue jay. While, "I would never offer an opinion unless I am asked," somehow her opinions were always known to all. She was a connoisseur of brown bananas, Abe's hot dogs, and REAL turkey sandwiches (NOT the thin-sliced deli turkey). She cooked a mean spanakopita (spinach pie) and delicious baklava, and passed her secret recipes on to the following generations to keep the traditions alive.

She enjoyed playing tennis in her younger days, and in her later years would watch every possible professional match and tournament, constantly calling her sister, Cleo, to discuss players, shots and serves. She was a huge fan of Penn State football; life in her house came to a stop on Saturday autumn afternoons when the Penn State football game was on. Artie also became a devotee of slot machines in her later years, first at Caesars in Atlantic City and subsequently at Mohegan Sun Pocono. She and Nick spent many happy hours and much of their children's inheritance at the slots and the craps tables.

Artie became Yiayia, (Greek for grandmother), with the births of her grandchildren, Alia, Alyssa and Christian, to her son, Jeff and his wife, Teri; and Demetra, Damon and Talia to daughter, Karen. She loved them all and followed their academic, sports and professional careers with great interest. In her final year, she also finally made her peace with man's best friend, learning to at least tolerate her children's dogs.

Friends and family are invited to meet with the family from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., 140 N. Main St., Shavertown. A funeral Divine Liturgy Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 32 E. Ross St., Wilkes-Barre. Interment will follow the Mass at Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst, next to her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.