Vasilios A

Pantelis

Vasilios Pantelis was born on June 2, 1934, in the small village of Koftra, near Thermo, in the region named Aetolia-Acarnania, which contains the larger metropolis Agrinion, Greece. His natural parents were Fotios and Alexandra Tsolos (nee Pantelis) who had four children - Thanasis, Eleni, Vasilios and Constantinos and gave up the youngest two for adoption by Alexandra's brother Andreas Pantelis and his wife Eleni (nee Siahos) who did not have children of their own. Growing up in poor, war-torn Greece, Vasilios worked various odd jobs including curing tobacco (a major industry in his region),butcher and tailor. As a result, Vasilios was the family's resident expert in carving up holiday meats, roasting the lamb on the spit on Easter Sundays, as well as having a keen eye for how clothes fit and being a sharp dresser. He emigrated to the United States in 1960 and lived in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx, as a member of the Zoodochos Pigi ("life-giving spring") community, while working at and operating various restaurants and food establishments. He met the love of his life, Margarita (nee Xidias) in late 1962 and they were married in April 1963 in Zoodochos Pigi Church. Children Eleni and Andreas soon followed. The family ultimately moved to Washington Heights in Manhattan and attended both St. Anargyroi Church and St. Spyridon Church, with its Greek parochial school. The family moved to Cliffside Park, New Jersey in 1979 and Vasilios and Margarita lived there until his recent passing on November 7th. He was a quiet, kind, gentle man with an old soul and subtle sense of humor. He will be fondly remembered by his loving wife of 59 years, Margarita, his children Eleni/Tom and Andreas/Anna, grandchildren Aristotle, Lexi/Caleb, Zachary and Andrew and great granddaughter Sage. He is survived by his brother Thanasis, sister Eleni, brother-in-law Apostolis/Marianthi, sisters-in-law Voula and Vasiliki and numerous nephews, nieces and grand nephews and nieces. May his memory be eternal and may God forgive him for his sins, which as far as his survivors could tell, were few and far between.

Zoe se sas.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Ascension Greek Orthodox Church Fairview, N.J.