Mary Economides passed away peacefully on August 4, 2019. Born in March 1926 on the Island of Cyprus, Mary was the oldest of six siblings. She and her family were known for their musical talents, with friends and neighbors often gathering at the family household to be entertained. Mary played the mandolin while she and her siblings sang popular songs.
Mary met her husband, Nick, when he boarded in her parents’ home in Ktima, Cyprus. Nick secretly told Mary’s mother that he wanted to marry her after she graduated from high school. Choosing love over academics, Mary turned down a full scholarship to study at the prestigious University of Athens to marry her sweetheart.
Together with their two-year-old son, George, they immigrated to the U.S. in 1949. They settled in Long Beach where she cared for George while Nick worked and attended Long Beach City College. She immediately became active in the Greek community, serving in a variety of roles at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church on Pacific Avenue, serving under the new parish priest, Father Nicholas Billiris. She later served as church secretary for many years.
She loved to sing. She sang in the Assumption Choir for 50 years, with people often saying she had the voice of an angel. She would regularly serenade the staff and fellow residents at Belmont Village Senior Living in Cardiff, CA, typically singing “My Country Tis of Thee”, the Greek National Anthem, and a comical combination of two Greek songs that didn’t make sense together…but no one at Belmont knew Greek, so it didn’t matter. Even two days prior to her passing, she serenaded the staff and patients on her hospital floor with a strong rendition of “My County Tis of Thee.”
She was fluent in Greek, English, French and Spanish, and could carry on a reasonable conversation in Italian, German, Russian, Turkish and Arabic. She served as a translator for the Long Beach Police Department and was called often because she knew so many languages.
Mary and Nick became politically active after the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974. She tirelessly lobbied Congress and other officials on behalf of her native country for many years.
She is survived by her two sons, George and John, and John’s wife, Pam; three granddaughters, April, Elyse and Laura; one great granddaughter, Audrey; and her youngest sister, Elsa. She was preceded in death by four of her siblings: Charles, Stella, Christaleni, and Eugenia; two infant sons, Paul and Steven, and her beloved husband of 64 years with whom she is now reunited. And most importantly, she has joined the heavenly choir, singing to her King.
The Trisagion service will be at 5 p.m., Sunday, August 11, at the Westminster Memorial Park and Mortuary Chapel. The Memorial service will be Monday, August 12, 9:30 a.m. at the Chapel, followed by the burial at graveside. A Makaria (reception) at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 5761 E. Colorado St will follow the burial service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Assumption GOC and designate to "Assumption Choir." Arrangements are under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park and Mortuary, 14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683. (714) 893-2421
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