Peggy Venetos

Peggy (Patia) Venetos, 89, of Monsey, New York, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2025, with her beloved husband John Venetos and extended family by her side.

Peggy was born on June 18, 1936, in the village of Karyes, on the island of Chios, Greece, to Dimitria and Stamatis Res. She spent most of her childhood caring for her younger siblings, including the years she spent as a refugee in Cyprus when her family courageously fled their homeland to escape World War II, returning to Chios after the war.

In 1951, Peggy and her family traveled by boat on the Nea Hellas to the United States, where she carried her siblings on her back through Ellis Island, in search of a better life. In 1958, she married her loving husband, John, also from the village of Karyes, and shared 67 beautiful years of marriage.

After initially settling down in the Bronx, NY, in 1968, Peggy and John purchased their forever home in Monsey, NY, where they raised their four beautiful children, Kalliope "Kelly" (James) Maris, George (Elpida) Venetos, Stamatis "Steve" Venetos, and Dimitria "Debbie" (Spero) Leakas. Every weekend, Peggy, and her sister Theodora (Michael) Poulos, who lived across the street with her extended family, welcomed dozens of relatives into their homes, establishing a tradition of family closeness that continues with the younger generations to this day.

A strong matriarch, mother, Yiayia, and Great Yiayia, Peggy lives on through her eight grandchildren, Pat (Irene) Maris, John (Elena) Maris, Dimitria (Artur) Kukulka, Theodore Leakas, Athena Venetos, Yanni Leakas, Patia Venetos, and Voula Leakas, and her four great grandchildren, Anna Maris, Kalliope Maris, Artur Kukulka, and Kalliope Kukulka. She is also viewed as a mother and Yiayia to her many nieces and nephews who love her endlessly and whom she cared for as her own.

Peggy was preceded in death by her beloved son, Stamati (Steve), and her sisters Elizabeth Mestousis and Theodora (Michael) Poulos. She is survived by her siblings Despina (Aldo) Res, Mary (Richard) Kroll, Irini (Chuck) Eckes, Peter Res, brothers-in-law Markellos Mestousis and Thomas Venetos, sister-in-law Maria Mestousis, and her infinitely large extended family.

Initially working in New York City as a talented seamstress, Peggy used any extra money she made to buy Christmas gifts for her siblings when her parents could not. She ran a family-owned luncheonette in the Bronx with her husband John and simultaneously helped her son George start his own business, working tirelessly to give the best possible life to her family. Even though she never drove, Peggy found a way to attend every milestone for each of her children and grandchildren and was always available to watch them grow. She always helped with the preparations at the Church Festival of her long-time parish of S.S. Constantine and Helen in West Nyack, NY, and was known and loved by everyone.

Peggy loved unconditionally and touched the lives of everyone she met. Her beautiful blue eyes lit up every room she entered, often matched by her clothing in her favorite color, blue. Peggy joyously lived life to the very fullest, talking to everyone around her, and dancing and singing until the very end. She would call loved ones near and far to check in on them daily and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Cooking was her love language; her legendary keftedes, loukoumades, kourambiedes, and koulourakia were made with one special ingredient: AGAPE or LOVE.

Peggy's memory is cherished, and she has been a gift to so many. She taught everyone around her the true meaning of love through her warmth, selflessness, empathy, laughter and positivity.

Visitation hours will be held on Wednesday October 8, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Joseph W. Sorce Funeral Home, 728 W Nyack Rd, West Nyack, NY 10994.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday October 9, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1 Marycrest Road, West Nyack, NY 10994, followed by a burial at Rockland Cemetery, 201 Kings Hwy, Sparkill, NY 10976, next to her beloved son Stamati (Steve).

Contributions in honor of Peggy will be donated to the Chios Autism Society through S.S. Constantine and Helen. Please select "Memorials" and leave a note "Memorial for Peggy Venetos" when donating.

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