Elizabeth "Toula" KOVATIS

KOVATIS Elizabeth "Toula", of Cedar Grove, beloved wife of the late Pericles Peter Kovatis (Lt. Col., USAF-Ret.), was born in Hartford Connecticut to Costa and Julia Andrian both immigrants from Greece. She was educated in the Hartford schools and an alumnae of the University of Hartford. During these years she was a competitive swimmer and very active in her local church as a Sunday School director and member of the choir. During WWII, she worked at the Pratt & Whitney company and the Hartford Insurance company.A resident of Cedar Grove for 55 years, she and her husband were among a group of ambitious founders of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Orange New Jersey. Throughout her life, she devoted her time to various church-related organizations including the Ladies Philoptichos Society and the Daughters of Penelope. In addition to raising a family and caring for her husband, Toula worked for Burrelle's clipping service in Livingston New Jersey for 31 years as a research reader and retired in 2005. During her brief retirement, she continued her interests in sports, current events, knitting and cooking, her church and many civic projects.She leaves three sons: Peter of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dean of Cedar Grove, and Dr. Paul of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, as well as two daughters-in-law: Amy and Chrysa, and many nieces, nephews, and cherished friends. Viewing will be at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave. (Rt. 23), Cedar Grove, Monday evening 7-9 PM. Funeral services will be 12 PM at Sts. Nicholas, Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Orange, New Jersey, Tuesday. Burial will be at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Upper Montclair.In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Building Fund of Sts. Nicholas, Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 510 Linden Place, Orange, New Jersey in Toula's name.