Theresa Koukias

On August 9, 2024, Theresa (Zaharias) Koukias passed peacefully in the loving embrace of her family at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Stefan and Kristen Koukias of North Andover. The daughter of Greek immigrants, Theresa was born in Lowell to Eleni (Stefanou) and Nikolas Zaharias on February 17, 1931. She graduated from Lowell High School in 1948 and later, while raising her children, attended Lowell State College for a degree in Education. This led to a teaching career in the Lowell public schools teaching students to whom English was a second language. Throughout her life she honored her Greek heritage making numerous trips to Greece to visit relatives and make new friends. A highlight were the trips to her mother's village in Leonidio with her children and grandchildren. A life-long reader, Theresa valued education and frequented her local libraries. She loved the Boston Pops. Theresa nurtured and held friendships with people from all walks of life with many friendships carried over 8 decades. She was a great letter writer and was always quick with a card or telephone call to let friends know she was thinking of them. Theresa is survived by her son Stefan and daughter-in-law Kristen Koukias of North Andover, her daughter Helen and son-in-law Tim Bergere of Doylestown, PA, her 7 grandchildren, Evan Koukias and Stefan, Haley, Rory, Kyra, Thierry and Isabelle Bergere, her great grandson Matias Segoviano (son of Haley and partner David), her sister-in-law Carol Wilkins of Tyngsboro, and many beloved nieces and nephews, She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Charles and sister-in-law Maryanne (Saad) Zaharias. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 7 at noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill, MA. Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be private. The family is grateful to her many friends and caregivers for their expressions of love and support. In lieu of flowers, Theresa requested that contributions in her memory be made to the U.U. Community Meals Program, or one of the other programs at the Church which Theresa supported. Visit https://www.uuhaverhill.org/ or send your donation to The U.U. Church of Haverhill, 16 Ashland St., Haverhill, MA 01830. To share a memory or for more information please visit www.farmerfuneralhomes.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Theresa, please visit our floral store.