Sylvia (Sevasti) Panagis Stathis, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 13 at Shepherd of the Valley in Howland. She was 94. She was born on November 11, 1931, in Warren to John and Marietta (Margeta) Karagiannis Panagis. She was a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, January Class of 1950, where she was an honor student.

Sylvia was employed by Warren City Schools, where she worked as a school secretary for 37 years, retiring in 1987. During her career, Sylvia worked at Market Street, H.B. Turner Junior High, Emerson, McKinley, Elm Road, and Devon Elementary Schools. She was the perfect person for the front office, friendly and helpful, always with a smile.

A life-long member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Warren, Sylvia enjoyed participating in the choir from the age of 12 and continuing for decades, eventually singing under the direction of both of her daughters. She also served for many years as chairman of the Church Bulletin Committee. She was a member of the Daughters of Penelope, the Yasou Club, the Pan Rhodian Society, and the Senior Citizens Club. Sylvia was very sociable and loved the time she spent with family and friends. She enjoyed hosting family gatherings and social outings with friends, including breakfasts and lunches with her many lady friends, where the “Happiettes” or the “Bingo Girls” would meet, eat, talk, and laugh for hours. (Our apologies to the wait staff at those restaurants!)

Sylvia loved music and always wanted to learn to play the piano. However, growing up during the Great Depression, her parents could not afford a piano. She made sure that her own children had a piano and lessons and instilled a love and appreciation for music in each of them. She enjoyed nothing more than listening to them practice and perform. She had many opportunities for this as they grew older and participated in choirs and instrumental music groups in school and church, (one even becoming a music teacher) because of her encouragement.

Sylvia also loved to bake and was known for her delicious and meticulously made Greek cookies and pastries. She would return from volunteering at the annual St. Demetrios Greek Festival with a sore arm and numb fingers from cutting tray after tray of baklava, each piece exactly the same size. Her koulourakia were much sought-after at church coffee hours and bake sales. She also enjoyed teaching anyone who wanted to learn how to bake her tasty cookies.

Sylvia cherished her time with family and enjoyed every minute with her husband, William (Bill) Stathis, whom she married on July 10, 1955. From their first date together, flying in a twin-engine Cessna, to raising their three children, Sylvia and Bill built a beautiful life together that they happily shared for 47 years. They enjoyed social gatherings and travelling together, especially in their retirement, until Bill passed away in January 2003.

Sylvia will be remembered by those her knew her best, for her attention to detail. Her handwriting was neat and precise. Each year, she wrapped her Christmas gifts in gold paper, with red velvet bows, hand made to perfection. She always set a beautiful table at family gatherings. She made beds with military precision. She loved tending to her garden, which produced all she needed to make delicious family meals. She always wrote thank you notes.

Surviving Sylvia are her children, Dean Stathis of Virginia Beach, VA; Marietta (Ralph) Morris of Lewes, DE; and JoAnne (Ted) Baker of Cortland. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Celeste Morris (Forrest Dipert) of Washington, DC, Zoe Baker, and John Baker of Cortland, nieces and nephews Margaret (Jason) Lockwood, John P. (Amy) Panagis, Pam (Eric) Dudley, John J. (Caitlin) Panagis, Karen Kontras, George (Christine) Bellesis, Phil (Lisa) Karides, Annie (Angelo) Versis, and godchildren Elaine Roshetsky, Faith Rice, Sue Cassudakis, Christopher Kopelos, and Warren Stone.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her two brothers, Judge Peter J. Panagis, and James J. Panagis.

Services will be held at 11 AM on Monday, August 17 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 429 High Street NE, Warren, OH, 44481, with calling hours at the church beginning at 10 AM. The Rev. Constantine Valantasis and the Rev. Demetrios Constantine will celebrate the service.

Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com for service details or to send condolences to the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Sylvia’s memory to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 429 High Street NE, Warren, OH 44481 or to any organization of the donor’s choice.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Shepherd of the Valley in Howland and Traditions Hospice for their support and loving care of our mother over the past four years, and to Dr. Anthony Durig, her audiologist, who went above and beyond to keep Sylvia’s hearing at its best.