Catherine Karaconstantis

Catherine "Kay" Karaconstantis (Pappas) of Hampton, New Jersey passed away at age 89 on February 25, 2025. She will be remembered as a loving, outgoing and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who always put family first. She had a gregarious, sociable personality and was quick-witted and fun-loving. In her younger days, Kay was known to be an exceptional Greek dancer. She enjoyed her trips to Atlantic City, cruises, and participated in social events at her assisted living facility, where she spent the last couple years of her life.
Kay was born August 12, 1935 in New York City, where she lived until 1957. She worked at Columbia University and Barnard College until moving to New Jersey, where she and her then-husband, Ted, raised their family. She later remarried and moved to Sussex County with her husband, Peter. They were part-owners of the St. Moritz in Sparta during the 1970s. In 1983 they opened Pekay's Luncheonette in Newton, where they made many great memories and friends. Upon the sale of Pekay's in 2000, they retired to Vero Beach, FL, where Kay lived until her husband's passing in 2018. She moved in with her daughter in Hampton and lived there until moving to The Chelsea at Sparta in 2022.
She was a member of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Randolph, NJ, where she was a GOYA advisor and member of the festival committee. Upon moving to Florida, she became a member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Pierce, where she once again served on a number of committees and organizations, including the Philoptochos. Kay's Greek Orthodox faith and traditions were of the utmost importance to her.
Kay was predeceased by her parents, Emmanuel and Fannie Pappas, brothers Theodore Pappas and his wife, Evangeline; Nicholas Pappas; former husband, Theofanis P. Dardaganis, and her husband, Peter.
She is survived by her children, Peter Dardaganis (Ruth) and Faye Paskas (Martin Blackwell). She felt blessed to be a part of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's lives and is survived by her granddaughters, Erica Potosky (Ryan), Amanda Young (Aaron), Kia Paskas (John Meyer) and Kayla Hunsicker (Kyle). Her great-grandchildren, Evan, Matthew, Sunny and Lyra will always remember the love their "Big YiaYia" had for them. She is also survived by her step-grandson, John Steven LaLime, who kept in touch with her over the years. She is also survived by her nieces, Penny and Andi, and nephew, Michael, in California; and her niece, Maryellen, in Florida.
A Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 10-11 a.m. at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Randolph, NJ with the Funeral Service immediately following. Interment will be at the Branchville Cemetery in Frankford Township, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Randolph, NJ.