William Peter Poulos

Bill Poulos, age 95, fell asleep in the Lord on January 30, 2025. Beloved husband of Georgia Poulos née Zoumis for 60 years. Loving father of Peter (Susan) Poulos, Sophia Bross, and the late Andy Poulos. Devoted son of the late Panagiotis and Vasiliki (née Kostantopoulou) Panapoulos. Proud grandfather of Alexandra Poulos and Parker and Avery Bross. Dear brother of the late John (the late Eleni) and Argyro Panapoulos. Fond uncle and cousin of many.
Bill was born in 1929 in Kastria, a small village in the mountainous municipality of Kalavryta, Axa as, Greece. Bill's schooling was abruptly ended after only three years when the village school closed due to the wars that engulfed Greece over the next decade. Bill spent far too much of his adolescence taking refuge on Helmos, the highest mountain in the Peloponnese, during the occupation of Greece from 1940 through 1945 in the Second World War. The ensuing Greek Civil War from 1946 through 1949 was a tragedy for all the Greek people. His mother Vasiliki passed away during this period and after his sister Argyro married, Bill left the village to seek work in Athens where he reconnected with friends he had made when working at the Monastery of Agia Lavra.
In 1955, at the age of 25, Bill left Greece and immigrated to the United States. Bill settled in the City of Chicago, his new home, where Bill made many friends and built a good life. In 1956, he began working day shifts in grocery stores so that he could go to school at night, which he did for four years so that he could learn English and earn a general education diploma. In 1961, Bill began a long career as a server at some of Chicago's finest hotels and private clubs. He spent most of his career at the Westin Hotel, where Bill served as a union representative and from where he retired in 1993.
In 1963, Bill met Georgia, a young woman from Mazaika, a Greek village in the same area of the Peloponnese. That same year, the two married, borrowing money to pay for their wedding. During their marriage of over 60 years, Bill and Georgia enjoyed a full life with close ties to family and friends. Together, they raised three beloved children, Sophia, Andy, and Peter. Bill also served as a former president, longtime member, and passionate supporter of the Society Kalavrytinon "Agia Lavra" which supports the Kalavrytinon community both in the U.S. and Greece.
In his retirement, Bill was able to spend time with family and friends. During this time, Peter and his family moved near Bill and Georgia and they were able to enjoy many festive Sunday dinners together. Bill was also able to spend many winters during his retirement in Sun City, Arizona, where he and Georgia were often visited by Peter, Susan, and Alexandra. Throughout his retirement, Bill warmly welcomed many guests into his home and (when the weather was nice) on the patio, where together they enjoyed many good conversations with aperitifs and mezédes.
Bill lived with honesty and integrity. He often spoke out for what he believed was right and for others. Bill felt blessed to survive the hardships of his early life to be able to work and have a family. He recognized that family was priceless. Bill's advice for how to live was that we should be honest, offer hospitality to others, and harm no one.
Visitation Wednesday, February 5 at 9:30 AM until the time of the Funeral Service at 10:00AM at Holy Taxiarhai and Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, 7373 N Caldwell Ave, Niles, Illinois 60714. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Kalavryta Foundation, 10101 S Roberts Rd, Ste 209, Palos Hills, IL 60465. Arrangements by Memory Eternal Funeral Directors, Ltd. (847) 375-0095.