Mary Athens Christo

Mary Athens Christo, passed away on Tuesday February 18, 2025. She was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania on December 25, 1922, the daughter of William Athens and Konstantina Zacharopoulou, both from Kalamata, Greece. She was the second born child of six children. She grew up in Clearfield, Pennsylvania and during the early years of the Great Depression, at the age of ten, Mary lost her mother in a fatal car accident. Overnight, Mary became the matriarch of the family tending to the daily needs of the house as well as raising her younger brothers and sisters. Even though times were tough during those years, she successfully managed to balance both her home responsibilities and continued to attend school and graduating from Clearfield High School. During World War II, Mary did her part in the war effort by working at a local clothing factory, along with her sister, where she sewed together jackets for the US Army. Shortly after the war's end, she found a job in the local telephone company where she began working at an entry level position of phone operator on the switchboard. After the Korean War, two of Mary's brothers had moved to Atlanta to work for Lockheed and subsequently they brought her down to Atlanta so that she could be closer to family. She successfully transferred her position to Atlanta to work with AT&T (Ma Bell) where she became head trainer of the operators and switchboard. By the end of the 1950's Mary had been promoted to an executive position within AT&T where she earned the title of Vice President and head of all operators of the southern district. She held this position until her retirement in 1964. In 1962 she met the love of her life, Louis Christo, accidentally at an afternoon golf outing. Louis and Mary were happily married for 49 years. In 1972, Mary and Louis travelled to their ancestral homeland of Greece, where they adopted two children and brought them to the USA. Mary was a devout Greek Orthodox Christian and an active member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and Community of Atlanta, Georgia. Mary always wanted to be a teacher, and she achieved that dream by teaching Sunday school for thirty years. She is survived by her son Demetrios (Jimmy) Christo, daughter Catherine Christo Herbst; two grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, godson Tim Tassopoulos and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews throughout the USA and Greece. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Louis A. Christo, and her siblings (Pete, George, Lula, John, and Catherine). Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 10am at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Clairmont Road. Viewing will take place prior to the funeral at the Cathedral at 9am. Interment will follow at Floral Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2500 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329.