Despina Papadopoulos was born on February 24, 1930 to Eleftherios and Sophia Papadopoulos in Ekaterini, Greece. She was the middle child of three siblings and grew up as a young girl during the WWII Nazi occupation of Greece, attending school and working on her family’s tobacco farm. She later attended seamstress school.
Around the age of 28, Despina left Greece and spent almost one year in Ceuta, Spain. There she spent time with her uncle George Amanatides and family while waiting for her husband-to-be, an Italian merchant marine, to return from his ocean voyage. Upon his return, Despina married Ernest Carabiniero (Carter) and they settled in Galveston, Texas where her children Sophia and Robert “Ricky” were born and raised.
Despina quickly grew to love her new home on the Gulf Coast and could not be more proud to be American. She swapped recipes with neighbors and learned how to cook traditional American foods such as Thanksgiving dishes, and was an active PTA mom at her children’s elementary school. Never one to stay idle, she worked part-time as a seamstress when the children were older and later at a junior high school cafeteria. She was widowed at the age of 51 and continued to dedicate her life to her children, ensuring their education and careers were always a priority.
She was an excellent cook and never let anyone leave the house hungry as those of us fortunate to be close to her can attest to. Every plant thrived in her care as she possessed a passion and talent for gardening throughout her life. She also maintained pride in her Greek culture and was enthusiastic to share her love of country with everyone. Her true joys were her four precious grandchildren, family and friends, and Church. In the Greek Orthodox Church she was a lifelong member of Philoptochos in Galveston and Austin, along with the Daughters of Penelope in Galveston.
Despina was beloved by her family and community. She especially adored the children at church and in her neighborhood where she was known to hand out cookies and candy. Everyone was welcome in her home. She leaves behind a legacy of love and strength as she was also a breast cancer survivor.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her older sister Maria and younger brother Pantelis, his wife Nopi, and many nieces and nephews in Ekaterini.
She is survived by her children, daughter Sophia Carter Carabiniero, granddaughter Jasmin Despina Ensanian and her husband Daniel Ensanian, granddaughters Alexandra Khan and Sarah Khan, and son Robert Ricky “Eleftherios” Carter, his wife Rania Basdra and granddaughter, Despina Carter.
We will miss our mother and yia yia very much as her beautiful smile and laughter filled our hearts and home. May you ride to Paradise on the wings of angels, memory eternal our beloved.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church Building Expansion Fund, Worldvision.org, or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
