Irene Philip

Irene Philip of Fort Lee, NJ. died peacefully in her sleep yesterday. She was 89 years old.
Born Irene Stavropoulos from the Bronx, N.Y. a former resident of Tenafly, NJ who devoted many years to philanthropy and to her Greek Orthodox faith.
Serving 20 years on the boards of both St. Basil Academy and the National Philoptochos, Irene chaired numerous fundraisers and events for the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in New York, The Cathedral of St. John The Theologian in Tenafly, NJ and The Archdiocese of New York. She was appointed to the Archdiocesan Council by his eminence Archbishop Iakovos and received the Patriarchal Cross from his eminence Archbishop Spyridon. She was married to Dr. Chris Philip for 59 years.
She leaves behind a devoted family, son Chris Philip Jr,. daughter Katherine Kojanis, son-in-law Dr. Chris Kojanis, a grandson, Dr. Lee Kojanis and his wife Dr. Daniele Orellana, twin granddaughters and their spouses, Dr. Renee Cuomo and Michael Cuomo and Ellyn Bannon and husband Michael Bannon. Also left behind are two great-grandchildren, Christian Elias Cuomo and Katerina Jules Bannon. She has many loving, devoted nieces, nephews and cousins.
Irene grew up in the Bronx with her loving parents Eugenia and Costas Stavropoulos, sister Helen and brother John. Irene sang in the church choir and became Miss Greek Independence in 1953, shortly after she met her husband at a Kastorian dance while he was serving as a Captain in the Air Force Dental Corp. They married and built a family together in Tenafly,NJ where her busy philanthropic activities were always in parallel to her raising a family. Cooking, entertaining friends, giving back to the community and attending church were a priority for Irene. She is remembered for her kindness, patience and unique ability to nurture loyal friendships and was a great chef, her spanakopita recipe was award winning and was published.
May her many accomplishments be remembered, and her kind soul continue to touch those she knew.
Family and friends are invited to visit Thursday 6-9PM at the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, 353 E. Clinton Ave. Tenafly, NY 07670. Funeral services will begin on Friday at 11AM at the church. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.