Maria Nellas

She was born on April 15, 1939, to Bessie (Xanos) and Peter Trilikis. Raised in Harvard, Illinois, Maria grew up with her siblings George (Bella) Trilikis, Estelle (deceased), and Georgia (deceased) before the family moved to Peoria, Illinois. There, she attended Peoria Central High School and All Saints Greek Orthodox Church where she met Drakos James “Jimmy” Nellas. They married on June 18, 1961, shortly after Maria graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Maria worked as a social worker at various places including Catholic Charities from where she retired in 2012 at age 72. Maria enjoyed wintering in Texas with Jimmy and spending summers in Peoria with her family. She was also very fond of freshly cut flowers from her garden that she displayed all over the house.

Maria is survived by her beloved husband, Jimmy, and their two daughters, Paula (Marshall Canfield) Nellas and Stephanie (Patrick) Meier, as well as four cherished granddaughters who knew her as “Yiayia”.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 3, 2024 from 5 to 7 pm with a Trisagion Service at 7 pm at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Funeral services will be Friday, October 4, 2024 at 11 am at the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Peoria. Additional visitation will be from 10:30 am till time of service at 11 am at the church.

Burial will be in Springdale Cemetery in Peoria.

A proud lifelong blood donor, Maria made her final donation on August 27, 2024. She donated more gallons than we could count, saving well over 100 lives. In her memory, donations may be made to the American Red Cross or to All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Peoria, IL.

You may view Maria’s obituary online at www.Woolsey-Wilton.com