Olivia Malekos

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Olivia Ann Malekos, 73, announces the passing on 3/28/22, of their eldest female cousin, familiarly known as Betza. She was born in San Francisco to Nicholas & Ann Malekos. The family later moved to Millbrae where she & her brother Leon attended Mills High School. Betza received a Bachelor of Arts Degree & teaching credential from California State University, Chico & a Master of Arts Degree in Education from University of San Francisco.

After college, Betza spent a year traveling throughout Europe, including several months in her paternal family's homeland & village of Vamos, Crete, Greece. An avid traveler, she returned multiple times to visit Europe & the Middle East where she experienced the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Bastile Day in Paris, & Oktoberfest in Munich. She also enjoyed trips to the East Coast & Hawaii with her mother & niece. One of her last trips was to New Mexico, accompanied by a cousin to see her niece's Master's degree graduation.

She began a 43-year teaching career in Napa where she dedicated her life to teaching elementary school-aged children for 27 years. She married, & had an unparalleled love of large-breed dogs, some of which she entered in dog shows. She enjoyed The Beach Boys (whom she once met backstage), sporty cars, the ocean, & white chocolate! She grew up in the turbulent 1960's & was an advocate for peace & justice all her life. She later moved to Modesto and taught in the Lodi Unified School District for 16 years, including summer school, inter-sessions, and after-school programs.

Betza was extremely generous with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers & students who enjoyed her delicious desserts, Greek pastries, & other culinary specialties. It was a special tradition for cousins to gather several times a year to make her famous baklava & kourambiethes, passing down her mother's recipes to the next generations.

Because teaching five days a week was not enough, she also taught Sunday School for 30 years at the Greek Orthodox churches in Novato & Modesto. She had a deep faith in God & attended church every Sunday. She helped at the annual Greek Food Festival & was a member of Philoptochos & Sisterhood Eleftheria clubs. In retirement, Betza continued her love of education as a volunteer at the Stanislaus Literacy Center teaching adults to read.

We have lost our trailblazer cousin to whom we all looked to for advice, counsel, & direction, & to whom we especially looked up to as our role model. As the eldest cousin, she lovingly guided, supported, & encouraged us. She was always hospitable, from the days when she would host us in downtown San Francisco where her father owned a grocery store, to later years when she warmly opened her homes in Napa & Modesto. We will miss our cousin group trips to Wente Vineyards for lunches & wine tasting, Greek Festivals, southern California to watch our children's Greek folk dancing. We each have our own experience with her - traveling, attending a show or just sharing a meal. A special thank you to all her kind caregivers, Fr. Jon & Fr. Michael, & to all who visited her.

We know Betza joins her parents, brothers, & family who have pre-deceased her. She was a beautiful soul on Earth, & now she is a beautiful soul in heaven. Betza is survived by her nieces Ann (Becky) Malekos & Irene Gray, & great-nephew Wes Gray, along with many cousins who treasure her. May her memory be Eternal!

Trisagion Service, Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Salas Brothers Chapel, 419 Scenic Dr., Modesto, CA at 3:00 p.m. Private Funeral Service, Greek Orthodox Memorial Park Chapel, Colma, CA

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to any of the following: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Modesto; Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center; Stanislaus County Animal Services