Tula Dovalis

Panagiota "Tula" Dovalis (nee Athanasoulis), 90, of Neenah, WI, passed away peacefully on Jan. 20, 2025, in her home in Hartland, WI. Her Lord Jesus welcomed her to heaven where she once again embraced the love of her life, George, who she has missed desperately since he passed twenty-six years ago. Independent and fiery until the end, Tula is remembered by family and friends as a woman of deep faith, a loving and supportive wife, and wonderful mother and Yiayia.
She was born in Sparta, Greece in 1934. At 17, after witnessing the horrors of fascism firsthand during World War II, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean by herself with a single piece of luggage and less than $20 in her pocket. Once in the land of opportunity and freedom, she made her way to Chicago where some extended family resided and she found a job at a sewing factory. She worked tirelessly to sponsor and bring the rest of her family from Greece to America.
While attending the wedding of a friend, one of the groomsmen caught her eye. For George and Tula, it was love at first sight. A few short weeks later, they were married in 1957. They ran a grocery store in Chicago with George's brother until 1971 when they bought Jimmie's White House Inn supper club from George's godparents. The supper club in Butte des Morts, WI was an institution. With George behind the bar and Tula running the kitchen, customers were friends and friends were family. They retired in 1988 and moved to Neenah, WI. She loved tending to her yard, while she and George enjoyed golf, bowling, playing cards, and cooking her special Greek recipes for family and friends.
Tula remained in Neenah until 2018 when she moved to Hartland, WI to be closer to her daughter, Georgia.
A member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Fond du Lac, WI, Tula she was deeply involved in the women's Philoptochos Society. She enjoyed helping with the Church's Greek Festival every year she was able. Tula's church and her faith were always front and center. She often returned to Fond du Lac to attend service at Holy Trinity.
She is survived by her beloved daughter, Georgia Maxwell and her steadfast son-in-law Michael, the grandchildren she adored, Aristotle, Thanos, and Evangelia. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Mark Faase, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, George, her parents, Evangelos and Eleni Athanasoulis, and all her siblings, Aphrodite, Georgia, Yiannis, Demetrios, and Athena.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Melissa Plotz for the incredible care and love she offered to Tula daily. She started her time with Tula as a caregiver, but ended as part of Tula's family.
Tula is also survived by her daughter, Demetra Faase and son, James Dovalis.
Funeral services will be Thursday January 30, 2025, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 9400 West Congress Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, with Father Ciprian Sas officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Service starting at 12:00 p.m. Luncheon will follow. A graveside burial service will be held Friday January 31, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, Illinois.
Rest in peace, Yiayia. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Tula Dovalis Memorial Fund which has been established to support her church and the organizations close to her heart. Memorial contributions and or cards can be sent to 3270 Sylvester Drive, Hartland, WI 53029.
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