Mary M Spirou

Mary Mallers Spirou, friend to many and mother to more, passed away on February 16 in St Petersburg, FL. She was 96. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Arthur Spirou. Mrs. Spirou was a special education teacher of deaf children and a dedicated member of the Greek Orthodox Church through many offices, serving eventually as Vice-President of the National Women’s Society, called the Philoptochos Society. She was also a member for 4 years of the Greek Orthodox Church Council for the Archdiocese of North and South America. She was described as an effective and dynamic leader, and sensitive to the voices and concerns of women in the Church.

Mary Spirou, the daughter of Peter and Helen (nee Dascalakis) Mallers, was born in Lima, Ohio, in 1926 and moved with her family to Fort Wayne at the age of 2. Her parents were both Greek immigrants, and her father and his brother and cousins established their family business in movie theaters in northern Indiana. Mrs. Spirou graduated from South Side High School, and then MacMurray College, where she developed an interest in special education and was president of her senior class. She completed an MA degree in Special Education at Columbia University, and worked at the Lexington School for the Deaf in New York City.

While in New York, she met her husband. The couple started their family, and moved to Chicago for 15 years. She began her involvement in Church organizations during that time. Her family moved to Fort Wayne, where her husband and brother, George Mallers, now deceased, established Mallers-Spirou Enterprises, and where she resided until her husband’s passing.

Mary was an active volunteer in her community, at both Lutheran and Parkview Hospitals, as a member of the Christ Child Society, and at the Towne House Retirement Community where she resided for 7 years. She held many offices in the Greek women’s education and philanthropy group, the Daughters of Penelope, and served multiple terms as District Governor.

She is survived by her daughters, Victoria Sanftner, of El Paso, TX, and Elaine Fadul, of Fairfax, VA, and her son George Spirou and daughter-in-law, Eleni Spirou, of St Petersburg, FL. Her family includes seven grandchildren, Alexis Sanftner, Roger Sanftner (spouse Juleen), Peter Fadul (spouse Amanda), Joseph Fadul (spouse Sarah), Thomas Fadul, Arthur Spirou and Stratton Spirou, and seven great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by sons-in-law Keith Sanftner and Michael Fadul.

Funeral Service will be 11:00am, Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 110 East Wallen Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Fort Wayne. In honor of her life, contributions can be made to the church. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Spirou family at www.mccombandsons.com