MARIA AGRETELIS

1923 - 2015

AGRETELIS, Maria (Arvanitis) Of Allston died on September 25. Beloved wife of the late Peter Agretelis, she was the 91 year old matriarch of a large Greek extended family to whom she was devoted. Mrs. Agretelis was born in Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece on November 12,1923, a daughter of the late Ioannis and Paraskeve (Karantoni) Arvanitis. Growing up in post World War II Greece, early on she played a crucial role in the life of her family. Her talents as a seamstress allowed her to serve as one of the family's breadwinners, exchanging sewing work for the family's needs, including making dresses for the wives of doctors caring for her ailing father. Mrs. Agretelis followed her husband to the U.S. in 1956, at the age of 33 and took it upon herself to bring her mother, five siblings and their families to settle in the Boston area, where she would lead them as integral members of the Sts. Constantine & Helen parish of Cambridge, and the local Greek American community. Noted women's designer clothing retailer Sara Fredericks recognized Mrs. Agretelis' gift as a women's dressmaker, hiring her for the glamorous Newbury Street salon where she would fit celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and others over more than two decades. Mrs. Agretelis was the cherished mother of Stacey Agretelis and her husband, Harry Vlachos; beloved grandmother of Alexandra Maria Agretelis and Ariana Vlachos; sister of Stratis Arvanitis, George and his wife Kleanthe Arvanitis, Panagiotis and his wife Popi Arvanitis, James Arvanitis and the late Evangelia Girginis. She is also survived by her special caregivers, her niece Mary Vouthourellis and Doreen Keyes, and many nieces, nephews and cousins, by whom she was adored. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 30, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 14 Magazine St., Cambridge, at 10 am. Relatives and friends are invited. Those wishing to attend the funeral are kindly asked to go directly to the church. Visiting hours at the Lehman Reen & McNamara Funeral Home, 63 Chestnut Hill Ave., BRIGHTON, (Nr. Brighton courthouse), Tuesday, September 29, 5-8 pm. Interment at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the above named church in her memory. For directions and guestbook please visit: Lehmanreen.com.