Canellitsa T. Athans, 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 17, 2024, with her family by her side. Until the end, Connie or Kanella, as she was known to her family and friends, maintained her kindness, warm smile, and gratitude for her long life with her loving family and friends. Connie was preceded in death by her devoted husband Theodore ("Ted") Athans and is fondly remembered by her sons Dr. Tony T. Athans and Bobby T. (Cathy) Athans, her grandsons Theodore ("Teddy") Athans and George ("Georgie") Athans. Connie is survived by her sister, Argyroula (Constantinos) Hondros, and is preceded in death by her sister the late Panagiota (the late Dimitrios) Douva. She was the proud sister in-law of Constantina (the late George) Chronis, the late Tasia (the late Pete) Georginis, the late Maria (the late Andy) Bagianis, the late Pete (the late Joanne) Athans, the late John (the late Loula) Athans, and James (the late Eleanor) Athans; fond aunt to many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Connie was born on October 28, 1936 to parents Haralambos and Tasia Liakopoulos in Kalamata, Greece. Emigrating to the United States from Greece with her doting husband Ted in 1960, Connie and Ted settled in Mount Prospect, Illinois to live a long, wonderful life together with their sons and then their cherished grandsons until each of their passing to everlasting peace with our Lord in Heaven.

Although Connie's life cannot be summarized in few words, her love of family and friends, kindness and responsibility were evident in each memory to those who knew her best. She touched the lives of many in her more than 87 years of life.

Love of Family and Friends Connie's focus was her family and close friends. From her infectious smile and laughter to her genuine good nature, I would challenge anyone to find a memory of Connie that does not involve a listening ear, an open door to her home, and a warm cup of Greek coffee or tea welcoming friends and family alike. Throughout Ted's life, she was a devoted wife and until her death an adoring mother and grandmother. Connie's world was her children and when she was blessed with two loving grandsons, Connie surrounded Teddy and George with that same love and grace.

Kindness While Connie's smile and spirited humor drew you to Connie, her genuine kindness made it easy to love her as much as she would make everyone around her feel loved. Within hours after Connie's death, the family received messages from her numerous friends recounting her boundless kindness to everyone. A distinct theme of those stories were from the numerous friends of her sons who had left their homeland and families in Greece to come and study in the Chicagoland area and were heartbroken to hear of the passing of the woman that gave them a home away from home and a family to call their own in this new world. We should all be grateful to have known Connie and to have experienced such kindness.

Responsibility and Faith To say that Connie was a devout Greek Orthodox Christian woman would be an understatement. Her values and sense of responsibility to her faith were second to none. As a proud member of the Ladies of the Philoptochos of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Connie could be seen in church on Sundays and all holiday times, volunteering tirelessly whenever called upon at the numerous Philoptochos projects. Both Connie and Ted were members of the Megalopolis Society of Chicago and dedicated time and effort to those less fortunate. In addition, Connie loved to volunteer at the Greek American Nursing Home in Wheeling, Illinois. Connie's strong moral compass and devotion to her faith allowed her to continue to attend church regularly, even during times of difficulty - throughout which that fondly remembered smile was always present. In addition to the wonderful staff at the Greek American Nursing Home, the family would like to thank Dr. Demetrios Petrovas who was not only Connie's personal physician, but only through Dr. Petrovas' extraordinary efforts, was Connie able to extend her life with dignity and grace. A special note of gratitude to Dr. Peter Petrovas for always being attentive to her needs and requests.

Connie's memory shall live on in her family's hearts and in her friends' recollections for eternity.

Visitation Wednesday, May 22nd, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 820 W. Talcott Road, Park Ridge. Funeral Services Thursday, May 23rd, 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Des Plaines. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 2905 N. Thatcher Ave., River Grove, Illinois 60171.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 2350 E. Dempster Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016 and to the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Center, 220 1st Street, Wheeling, IL 60090

For info call (847) 375-0095