Stanley P. Zis

NASHUA -- Stanley P. Zis, 85, of Nashua, formerly of Meredith, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 19, 2009, at his residence in Nashua, surrounded by his family.

Born in Lowell, Mass., on July 31, 1923, he was the son of the late Peter and Stamata (Fantis) Zis.

Stanley was educated in the Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School. Mr. Zis also attended Lowell Trade School, where he took a machinist course. He was later employed as a machinist by the Malden Machine and Tool Co. in Malden, Mass., at the beginning of World War II. He later worked for Hayward Farms Dairy of Lowell and Nashua as a retail delivery man, first in Lowell and then Nashua until 1940. Stanley served in the Asiatic, Middle East Theater of Operations in the U.S. Navy as a GM 1/c until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

He married Bernice C. (Sedlewicz) of Nashua that year and moved to Winterport, Maine, where he took a job as a funeral director and embalmer for two years after which he attended the New England Institute of Anatomy and Sanitary Science in Boston. Upon completion of his degree, he returned to Maine as a licensed practitioner.

Mr. Zis returned to Nashua in 1953 and purchased the Joseph P. Michaelonis Funeral Home at 26 Kinsley St. and remained at the present location until his retirement in 1995. In 1972 he merged with Edmund F. Sweeney Funeral Home, formerly on Prospect Street, and Mr. Sweeney became his associate until his death. Stanley was a member and past president of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association, The National Funeral Directors Association and a member of the International Association of Thanatologists. He served on the Board of Registration of Funeral Directors for New Hampshire for eight years; he carried a funeral director/embalmers license in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.

Mr. Zis was a member and past secretary of the Nashua Order of AHEPA, a member of the James E. Coffey Post No. 3 American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 483 of Nashua, a life member of the Knights of Columbus No. 122; as well as a life member of the Prince of Peace 4th Degree of Knights of Columbus and a life member of the Nashua Lions Club. He was also a member of the Nashua Lodge of Elks and a former member of the Nashua and Laconia Country Clubs. He was a charter member and past president of the Winterport, Maine., Lions Club and was instrumental in forming the Searsport and Monroe Lions Club.

Mr. Zis was very active in both the Greek and Polish communities, and enjoyed serving on several committees throughout the years. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and boating.

Along with two passions of cooking and painting, nothing gave him more pleasure than spending time with his family. For many years, his lake residence in Meredith was the main gathering place for all holidays, special family occasions, and relaxing weekends.

Besides his parents, Stanley was predeceased by a daughter, Cassandra Zis Rando, two brothers, Peter Zis and Nicholas Zis; five sisters, Helen Pappas; Julia Moskos (Demetria), Jennie Tsangarakis, Florence Wyskoska and Alice Vurguropoulos.

Stanley is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bernice C. (Sedlewicz) Zis of Nashua; a daughter, Theodora M. Stroker of Nashua; a son, Peter J. Zis of Concord, and his wife, Patricia; two granddaughters, Kristin and Lindsey Stroker of Boston; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 22, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Zis-Sweeney Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St., Nashua. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in St. Louis de Gonzague Church, Nashua. Internment will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Hudson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stanley's memory to the Cardiac Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua 03060. To sign an online guest book, go to www.zissweeneyfuneralhome.com.

(FAMILY NOTICE)