Mary is survived by her nieces and nephews of Elena Psarakis, Stephanie Psarakis Hald and David Hald, and Michael and Tia Psarakis, and sister-in-law Sylvia Psarakis. She also has grandnephews of Guga and David and grandniece Mariam. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband James Koutris and brothers Emanuel Psarakis and Theodore Psarakis, and sister-in-law Adonea Psarakis. She was also a godmother of many children who adored her.
Mary was born on 1 January in Manassas, Virginia, of Argiro and Michael Psarakis. First generation from Greece descendants. She married James Koutris, an architect, in 1976 and was a choir member for many years of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Mary graduated college with an associate’s degree in accounting and worked for the Washington, D.C. public school system till she retired.
When Elena and Michael were young, they stayed with Mary and their grandmother while their parents went to Greece. One night they all decided to go and get custard. It was raining very hard that night and when it started to flood in Rock Creek Park, her mother started the prayer of Mother Mary. We all laughed at grandmother except Aunt Mary, who kept us all calm.
She helped whomever was in need and was tireless in her selfless help. When her brother Teddy became ill and his wife Adonea had Alzheimer’s, Mary tirelessly helped her niece Stephie take care of them for months until Teddy’s death and Adonea’s subsequent placement in a nursing home in 1996.
For many years, she and Stephie would talk with each other every night on the phone, sometimes for hours, often each putting on the same TV show in their homes and watching it together, as though they were in the same room while laughing and chatting about it over the phone. She essentially became a second mother to Stephie through her caring, advice, laughter, and love.
Mary was an excellent cook, making delmondes which everyone would pick at before dinner. We would all meet on Thanksgiving and Christmas at her house for family gatherings. Sometimes there would be as many as twenty people at the table. The house was always beautifully decorated for the Christmas and she would wrap the most beautiful gifts, you didn’t want to open them.
Jimmy was her brother’s best friend, so they have been each other’s lives forever. After church one day he asked her to marry him and she said yes. Apparently, that was the second time he asked her to marry him, as he did so many years before and she said no. Jimmy and Mary had a wonderful marriage until his death in 1992. They traveled together, laughed together, and shared a wonderful life filled with many wonderful adventures.
She loved animals, especially cats, and rescued a feral female cat and had it in her kitchen trying to feed it. Well, her niece Elena let the cat loose and Mary never could pick up the cat, as they didn’t have time to bond. During the 12 years that she had the cat, the cat would come up to eat food, rub against her hand, enjoy some catnip that Mary would put on a paper towel for her, and sit in the room for a bit, but during the other times of the day, Mary never knew where the cat slept and hid.
After she had two strokes she never lost her sense of humor, dignity, and grace. She will be missed by all who loved her.
Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation that will be held on Wednesday April 12, 2017 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Joseph Gawler's Sons, LLC 5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday April 13, 2017 at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2815 36th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007. Father Steve Zorzos will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Mary Koutris' life.
Flowers and condolences may be sent to Joseph Gawler's Son's, LLC, 5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016. Alternatively, in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Mary Koutris' name to Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2815 36th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007.
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