Angelina Kontgis

1922 - 2017

Angelina Kontgis
1922 ~ 2017
Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt passed away peacefully at the age of 95, on Saturday, May 27, surrounded by her loved ones.
Angelina was born to Steve and Sophia (nee Flementakis) Karras on February 20, 1922 in Hiawatha, Utah. At the age of 5, after her mother died, her father moved Angelina and her brother Jim to Lamia, Greece. There her father married Violet Peppera. After World War II, she traveled to Salt Lake City and for a short time worked as a seamstress to save money to return to Greece to marry her sweetheart, Angelo Kontgis. Together they moved to Hiawatha where Angelo worked as a coal miner. Soon they relocated to Salt Lake City where they raised their family. Angelo worked for Kennecott Copper until he retired, and Angelina worked at Ajax Press as a seamstress. Angelina and Angelo bought the 8th Street Market in 1964 and ran it until Angelo's death in 1986.
She had immense energy. It's hard to find the words to pay adequate tribute to this amazing lady. Her love and commitment to her family exceeded all else. She was passionate about them and their well-being, always there to love, protect, and do anything she could to help them.
Angelina was very talented. She learned to sew in Greece as a young girl. She made the vestments for the parish priests, and even the bishop, for decades. She also was an excellent cook and baker. Angelina's Greek pastries were some of the best in Salt Lake. Her home was always immaculate and welcoming, and she was so happy to have family and friends visit. We have lifelong memories of kids, grandkids, and cousins being together and enjoying her excellent cooking around her table. Her house was always our gathering place. She loved to garden, and her yard and house were alway a showpiece of flowers and plants.
She was very active in the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake City for over 60 years. For decades she baked the loaves of bread (prosphora) used in the Liturgy. She was a member of the Daughters of Penelope, the Daughters of Minos and Athanasios Diakos as well as the Philoptochos Society where she worked tirelessly, cooking, baking and preparing for the annual Greek festival. During the festival you always could find her in the pastry booth. Additionally, she was the chairman of the monthly senior citizens' lunch and was hands-on for any other activity.
She is survived by her son, Bill Kontgis and his wife Pat, her daughter Mary Kontgis, her son Chris Kontgis and his wife Jan, and her sister Bessie Karras as well as 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Angelo, her parents, stepmother, brothers James and infant Nick Karras, and her beloved grandsons, Andrew and Matthew Kontgis.
We would like to express love and gratitude to Chris and Jan for taking her home when she got sick and giving her tender loving care for 2-1/2 years until she passed. We would also like to extend our thanks and love to Karen Williamson, her caregiver. She not only took care of Yiayia with love but she also became part of our family. She was there to support all of us. Our sincere thanks to hospice nurse, Nicole, for her constant and loving care.
The viewing will be held Friday, June 9 from 6 to 8 pm with the Trisagion prayer service at 7 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 279 South 3rd West. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 10 at 11 am at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the following:
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, search Simon McCune CFF then select Southern Utah 2017.
http://fightcf.cff.org then visit Simon's page
In Honor of Simon McCune for Angelina Kontgis
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
PO Box 849168
Boston, Mass 02284
In Memory of Matthew Kontgis for Angelina Kontgis
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
279 South 3rd West
Salt Lake City, Utah
In Memory of Angelina Kontgis
We love you so much. Thank you for the legacy you left us.
May her memory be eternal.
Arrangements entrusted to Memorial Deseret Mortuary.