Katherine Bazoukas

Katherine Zoulas Bazoukas

WORCESTER - Katherine Zoulas Bazoukas-Kay-died peacefully in her sleep Friday, after a period of declining health. She was 94. Her husband of 54 years, Charles Bazoukas, died in 2004.

Kay was well-loved by her family. She leaves two sons, Nicholas and his wife, Mardi Coleman, and John, who cared for her during the past several years. She also leaves Sandra Bazoukas, widow of her son, James, who died in 2014. Sandy and Jimmy's children-grandson, Michael, and granddaughter, Alexis Halfmann and her husband, Will and their children, the much beloved great-grandchildren Charles and James Halfmann-were a delight to Kathy. She also leaves her niece's family, Teena and John Lenis, grandnieces, Christina Lenis Neofitides and Catherine Lenis, as well as her brother, Soterios Zoulas, and his wife, Grace Sahagian, all a source of love and support to her. Her predeceased brother, Steve, and his wife, Statia, were her two closest friends.

Kay had a keen wit and a generous heart. She will be remembered as the person who always was there for others-whether it was for her family, her church, or her friends. Kathy cared for her husband, Charlie, at home for several years through a series of strokes. When Charlie finally entered Holy Trinity Nursing Home, Kay was there every day caring for him. She later visited her Aunt Georgia at least weekly at Holy Trinity. At every visit, she brought cookies or candy or treats for other residents and staff. When you visited her home, you could not leave without eating or leaving with food. She brought love and caring to many people's lives.

Her faith was important to her. She belonged to the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, its Seniors Group, and was a Ladies Philoptochos Society member. An excellent cook of authentic Greek village cuisine, she contributed tirelessly to many Greek Festivals.

Katherine was born in Tsamantas, Epirus, Greece, where she survived the Italian and German occupations during World War II. Her son, Nicholas, said that she wrote her name into Greek history by the suffering she experienced during that time. She left Greece to come to the United States in 1947.

Before becoming a full-time mom, she worked for her father, Christos Zoulas, at his luncheonette, Zoullies Lunch in Webster Square, Worcester. It was there she met her husband, Charlie. She also worked at Parker Metal and at Dave Clark Company.

As Kay aged into her nineties, she felt more acutely the loss of her husband, her son, her brother and his wife and other close friends, the loss of her hearing and finally, her mobility. She would say on occasion, "The angel Gabriel has forgotten me". We are grateful for the time we had with her and know that Gabriel has taken her to those she missed so much. We also are grateful for the selfless care her son, John, provided to her and that allowed her to remain at home.

Donations in her memory may be made to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St, Worcester, MA 01609. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 24, at 10 a.m. at St. Spyridon's.