Sophie K. Gearen

Sophie K. (Kourlos) (Patsas) Gearen, 92 died October 2, 2012 at the Laurel Center Nursing Home in Bedford. She was born in Manchester on September 14, 1920, the daughter of Christos and Kaliope (Ziogas) Kourlos.

At the age of nine the family moved to Trenton, Michigan, just outside of Detroit where she attended elementary school and graduated from Folleyville High School.

Following her marriage to Nicholas Patsas, she returned to Manchester where she owned and operated One Hour Martinizing Dry Cleaners and Patsas Brothers Grocery for many years. She was a 28 year resident of the Gatewood Manor in Nashua. During her tenure at Gatewood Manor she was very active in many functions, such as activities director, welcome wagon, bingo and dance classes. Her gift for laughter, and a caring, loving nature made her a joy to know.

She was a member of St. George Geek Orthodox Cathedral and later St Phillips Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua. She was very active in many social societies and had served as grand marshal for the Daughters of Penelope, past president of the NOA club bowling league and a member of the Anagennesis Ladies Society. In the late ‘50s she was voted “Best Cook in Manchester” by the Union Leader newspaper for her Greek cooking.

She was pre-deceased by her husband of 24 years, Nicholas Patsas and also by her second husband R. Gearen; her daughter, Christina Philibotte; her two sisters, Esther Ridas of Detroit MI and Betty Walsh of Las Vegas NV; her two brothers, Socrates Kourlos of Las Vegas and Lumbra Kourlos of St. Clair Shores MI.

Her family includes two daughters, Maria Tebbetts and her husband Edwin of Nashua and Dorothea Schack of Goffstown; grandchildren, Sharon Tebbetts of Manchester, Marcus Pappas of Florida, Kathy Webster of Manchester, Stephen Dubois of Kingston and Audra True of Litchfield; great grandchildren, Nicholas Pappas of Manchester, Alexandra Pappas of Bedford, Gregory Tebbetts of Manchester and Mathew True of Litchfield; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours were on Thursday from 4 to 8 pm in the McHugh Funeral Home, 283 Hanover St., corner of Beech St. A Trisagion service was held at 6 PM. The Rev. Andrew Mahalares will officiate. A funeral ceremony was held Friday at 11 AM in St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St., Manchester. Burial followed in Pine Grove Cemetery.