Mary Belitsis

Mary Belitsis

September 15, 1935 – September 23, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mary Belitsis on September 23, 2025, at the age of 90. She was born on September 15, 1935, to parents Konstantinos and Alexandra Vanikiotis in the Argolida region of Greece.

The eldest of six children, Mary grew up on a farm with her siblings. In the mid-1950's, at 15 years old, she came to America with her sister Georgia. They were sponsored by her uncle, Anastasios Vanikiotis, and lived in Corona, New York. She attended Newtown High School in Elmhurst and later went on to work for a wedding dress lace company.

She was a member of Transfiguration of Christ Church in Corona, where she met her beloved husband of 57 years, Dimitrios Belitisis. They were married in that very church on May 25, 1958. Together, they achieved the true American dream, buying their first house in Corona and later moving to Bayside, where they raised their three daughters.

Their door was always open, where family and friends would gather every Sunday.

They opened their coffee shop in the early 1970's in Forest Hills, where they spent over 30 years serving their community.

You could always find Mary growing vegetables and fruits in the garden, caring for animals, picking flowers, or laughing and sipping coffee with her family and friends. She truly appreciated all that life had to offer.

Mary will be remembered for her kindness, boundless strength, hard work, and delicious cooking.

You could always count on her chicken cutlets, gemista, pastitsio, but most famously, her spanakopita waiting for you on the stovetop.

Mary was a very proud sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her brothers Thanasi and Theodore; her children Haroula (James), Alexandra (Steve), Dina (Steve); her grandchildren Christina (Mike), John, Maria (James), Nicholas, Rena (Kieran), Demi (Andrew), James and Tina; Her great-grandchildren Stefanos and Cora; Sisters-in-law Kalliope and Efstathia; Brother-in-law Vangelis, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins in both America and in Greece.

She is predeceased by her husband, Dimitri; her brother, Nick; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Georgia and Gus, and Yiota and Leo; her brothers-in-law, Gerasimos and Nicholas; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Irini and John; and her sister-in-law, Gina.

She touched the lives of all who knew her and made them feel like family. She was everyone's "Yiayia Mary," and her message of strength, "Be strong", love, and happiness

will always be with us. We are blessed with beautiful memories of a life that was well-lived.

Services:

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 10:30AM-11:30AM at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Hicksville, NY 11801, and a funeral mass will be held at 11:30AM.

Final Resting Place:

Flushing Cemetery

163-06 46th Ave

Flushing, NY 11358

Memorial Contributions:

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Ronald McDonald house.