Joan M. (Umina) Chalikis

Joan M. (Umina) Chalikis, of Waltham, passed away at home, Friday, May 2, 2025. She was 76.

Born in Waltham on September 30, 1948, Joan was the daughter of the late Steven and Rose (Giardina) Umina. She grew up in Newton, where she worked at Cabot’s Ice Cream Shop during her teenage years and graduated from Newton South High School.

Pursuing her passion for fashion, Joan attended the School of Fashion Design in Boston while starting her career at Filene’s, where she served as a Buyer, responsible for evaluating fashion trends and selecting merchandise.

It was during a night out in Boston, dancing with friends, that Joan met the love of her life, George Chalikis. In 1972, the couple married, and they never stopped dancing; it remained one of their favorite pastimes together.

Family meant everything to Joan; she was a wonderful, loving wife, an excellent mother, and when her grandchildren came along, nothing made her happier than spending time with them, cooking and doing crafts. Known for her passionate spirit, Joan enjoyed engaging in lively discussions about politics and current events. But it was her selflessness and dedication to her family that will be remembered most; in short, they would describe her as a saint.

After raising her children, she went back to work at Panametrics, which became General Electric Power Systems, and continued her schooling nightly with a 4.0 GPA at Boston College. She worked for many years as a production systems analyst at GE before her retirement.

Joan was a woman of many interests; in addition to going dancing with her husband, George, she loved to sing, showcasing her talent in a local band that covered Motown Hits. She was an outstanding cook, serving up delicious Italian dishes that her family looked forward to every night. Any stragglers, friends or family were always made a plate. No one went hungry while in her house. She was an amazing artist, who expressed her creativity through her fashion drawings and her remarkable collection of shoes and jewelry. She loved to seek out antiques, especially during summer vacations spent down the Cape in Onset, where the family made many happy memories. And to relax, she enjoyed nothing more than curling up with a good romance novel.

In addition to her husband, George Chalikis, she leaves her children, Amanda Delaney and her husband, John, of Leominster, and Alex Chalikis of Waltham; her grandchildren, Alexis, John Jr., and Leah Delaney; her siblings, John Umina and his wife, Cathy, of Belmont, Steven Umina and his wife, Nancy, of Medfield, Lisa Umina of Hudson, and Dona Marrazzo and her husband, James, of Hudson. Also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.

Family and friends will honor and remember Joan's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Tuesday, May 13th, from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by her funeral service at 7 p.m.