Victoria Petrides

Victoria (Vicki) Manos Petrides, formerly of Worcester, Massachusetts, died October 28, 2024 at home in Half Moon Bay, California, with her daughter by her side. Vicki was born on April 15, 1934 in Worcester, MA. 

As the first-born daughter of Greek immigrants, she went to school at age six speaking only Greek, and came home the first day telling her mother that they were all saying “stupid things”, meaning, she understood nothing. She then took it upon herself to make sure that her three younger siblings learned how to speak English, so that they wouldn’t experience what she had in that first year. She later attended Classical High School, where it become apparent that she had a strong aptitude for math and science. With a strong desire to go to college, against the wishes of her traditional parents, she was able to convince them to let her attend college with the help of a beloved priest, Father Rizos. 

She graduated from Clark University, Phi Beta Kappa, with honors, the only woman to major in chemistry, with a minor in mathematics. She sang in the choir at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox church for many years and was also the church organist. It was there she met her future husband, Petros Petrides, whom she married in 1954. They moved to Norwich, CT in 1956 where she attempted to get a job as a chemist, but was told that women could not be hired as chemists. While this came as a complete surprise to her, she eventually did find a job as a mathematician at Electric Boat in Groton, CT, and worked for two years before her first child was born. Divorced in 1969, she returned to college to receive a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She tutored math and science at an all-girls high school, taught GED classes for adults, and taught in the newly formed Head Start Program in Norwich, CT. She later received a second Master’s degree in Library Science when she became a school librarian in the Norwich Public Schools, where she worked until she retired in 1999.

Among the friends of her children, she became a much-loved second mother to many, known as Mom Vicki, and patiently tolerated gaggles of adolescent youth who came by the house to visit, talk, and play music. She also spent long hours in counsel to young people helping them navigate life, and was the parent who would call the other parents to say that their child was safe at her house and had been fed dinner.

After retirement she continued to attend church in Worcester in order to sing in the choir and also help care for her elderly mother. She also took classes in pottery, and for 15 years participated in weekly classes in yoga and Tai Chi. She was also the co-founder of a small group of retired librarians called the “Gabby Gamers” who for years would eat lunch, play board games, and discuss the ups and downs of life, children, and aging.

In her later years, she developed dementia, and due to a significant fall was unable to live independently as she had for the prior 40 years. While this was extremely hard for her to accept, she came, somewhat unwillingly, to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Half Moon Bay for the final chapter of her life. She continued her daily practice and compulsion for Sudoku puzzles up until the year before her death, even though in the late stages of her dementia.

She eventually developed a strong affection for California and Steph Curry, even though she was a self-proclaimed New Englander and a die-hard Red Sox and Celtics fan. She spent the last years of life surround by love, acceptance, and the Pacific Ocean. 

She leaves behind a son, Ernie Petrides of Chelmsford, MA, a daughter, Lisa Petrides (Mark Graham), of Half Moon Bay CA; a brother George Manos (Arlene, deceased) of Worcester who predeceased her, a brother Paul Manos (Elizabeth) of Holden, MA, and a sister Renie (Tom, deceased) Manos of North Carolina. She was also predeceased by her parents, William Manos and Maria Mitsis Manos. She also leaves several nieces and nephews, and a cadre of friends who loved her for her wit and sass.

Calling hours will take place this Friday, November 1st from 4:00pm-6:00pm at Callahan Fay Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street, Worcester, MA. The burial service will take place on Saturday, November 2nd at 12:00pm at Hope Cemetery, in Worcester, MA. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to Clark University – Scholarship Fund, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, or online at https://clarku.edu/give as it was only through scholarships that she was able to attend college.