Maria Lamprinakos Collias

1939 - 2026

Maria Lamprinakos Collias

February 21, 1939 - March 27, 2026

Charlotte, North Carolina - In loving memory of Maria Lamprinakos Collias, who passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the age of 87.

Maria was a wonderful woman, friend, confidante, guide, treasured Yiayia, godmother, adored family matriarch, extraordinary teacher to generations of lucky students, generous soul, beloved wife of 58 years to her late husband, Nick Collias, and devoted mother to Dean Collias, M.D. (Gina), and to John Collias. Her greatest legacy remains her large, vibrant family, and her memory will be forever cherished by her three grandchildren: identical twin granddaughters, Celia Maria Collias Asbury (Hayden) and Sabrina Elaine Collias, and her grandson, Ethan Dean Collias.

Born on February 21, 1939, in Asheville, North Carolina, Maria was the daughter of the late Peter (Polivios) George Lamprinakos and Sofia Boukides Lamprinakos, who together with Maria's late brother, George Pete Lamprinakos, were founding members of Asheville's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Maria graduated from St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines Academy in Asheville, which later merged with Carolina Day School, where her grandson, Ethan, would also graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in history, with a minor in English, from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, now UNC Greensboro, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society, and Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society.

Like her late grandfather and uncle, Maria became a lifelong educator. She was an incredible teacher who deeply cared for her students. Over the course of her career, she taught history at Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh and later at four Charlotte schools: South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte Country Day School, Providence Day School, and UNC Charlotte. She then earned her master's degree in guidance counseling and went on to serve students at Eastway Middle School and Kennedy Middle School in Charlotte.

Maria firmly believed that travel was an essential part of education, often quoting Mark Twain: "One must travel, to learn." Her first trip to Greece was by ship in 1952 with her parents and brother. She returned to Greece and Europe many times throughout her life to be with extended family, traveling with her husband, sons, grandchildren, and friends. Her spirit was bright, adventurous, and wise.

Deeply devoted to God, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Greek Orthodox community, Maria lived her faith through both service and leadership. She was the first woman elected to the parish council of Holy Trinity in Charlotte and played a key role in acquiring land for the church's expansion. By breaking that barrier, she inspired a new generation of Greek women to seek leadership roles despite the church's traditional hierarchy. She also shared her Greek heritage, language, and values with her family, her classes, and her community at large. Beyond the church, Maria was a feminist, a voting precinct chair, and a committed advocate for civil rights and women's rights.

In 1981, Maria and her beloved husband Nick opened the Charlotte landmark restaurant Dikadee's Front Porch on East Independence Boulevard. Named after the dachshund they received as newlyweds from Nick's brother, George, the restaurant became a close-knit family of staff, customers, and dear friends. After a full day of teaching, Maria joyfully headed to her second job as co-manager and hostess. Her warm and genuine welcome to customers made them feel like she had been waiting for them to arrive all night. She was also the creative force behind the restaurant's front porch theme, decorating it with historic photographs of old Charlotte porches.

In her 55 years of living in the same Charlotte home, Maria relished time with neighborhood friends, long walks along the winding wooded street, and, in her senior years, visits with the neighborhood children, often offering to be the designated person to greet the afternoon school bus and walk her precious tiny neighbors home from school. Her home was filled with children, a parade of Greek epicurean cuisine, the scent of oatmeal chocolate chip pecan (you must have the pecan) cookies, the happy bark of the family dogs and the gentle purr of the cats, shelves of books, and endless sticky notes with quotes of love and encouragement.

Her family and friends were the foundation on which she built her life. She expressed a deep love for family and was a dedicated caretaker to her late mother Sofia. Many of her students became lifelong friends. She often remarked that she learned more from her students than they ever learned from her.

An avid reader, Maria may have been one of the oldest fans of the historical fiction series, Outlander, relating to the story's homestead in the Appalachian Mountains which appealed to her mountain heritage and her love of history.

Maria's enthusiastic optimism, radiant graciousness, unceasing encouragement, and often-expressed deep affection are the ways in which we can all live and lean into her spirit every day.

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 4:30-7:30 PM, a Celebration of Life gathering for Maria will be held at Rooster's Ballantyne, 15110 Bowl St, #101, Charlotte, NC.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Rd, Charlotte, NC. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to VIA Health Partners, 7845 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28226 (https://www.viagiving.org/donating)-the non-profit hospice that cared for Maria at the end of her life-or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend their great appreciation and sincere thanks to Dr. Michael Friedland, Dr. Michelle Janania Martinez, and Dr. Rene McLeod; Father Gregory Georgiou and Father Andreas Houpos; and the caring VIA Health Partners Hospice Team: Keri Waddington, RN, Colleen Ferry, Chaplain McCay Fletcher, and Sharon Alexander who all touched Maria's heart.

The family would also like express their gratitude to Maria's pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.

May Her Memory Be Eternal.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.