Joyce (Arvanitides) Armatas' Obituary
Joyce (Zoe or Zozo to her family and friends) Armatas of Jamesville, NY, passed away June 24, 2017. Joyce was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1929. She was the daughter of Peter and Fotini Arvanitides. Joyce was predeceased in 2013 by her beloved husband of 52 years, George and also by her son, George Andrew in 1996.
Joyce attended the American College in Greece, and was a graduate of the Design School of Salonika, Greece. She immigrated to the United States in 1948 and always enjoyed Christmas Eve as it was the anniversary of her arrival. Her most cherished job was to take care of her family.
She took joy in cooking Greek specialties for her family, making Greek cookies with her grandchildren and taking long drives to Skaneateles and Sylvan Beach. Every summer she looked forward to the annual family trip to Cape Cod. Joyce was a member of St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church and also St. Sophia’s Ladies Philoptochos Society.
She is survived her son, James Armatas; daughter, Stephanie Armatas; her grandchildren and greatest pride and joy of her life, George and Gerry Armatas; brother and sister-in-law, Dino and Ann Arvan; sister, Ann Arvan; her sister-in-law in Greece, Tassoula Armatas. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States, Greece and Argentina. She most especially loved and was loved by her cousin, Mary (Jim) Sakezles, who was more like a sister to her.
The family would like to thank all those who cared for Joyce, most especially Helen Sanders, who cared for her like her own mother.
Funeral services in celebration of Joyce’s life will be at 11 am on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, Waring Road, followed by Internment at Oakwood Cemetery.
Family and friends may call on Tuesday from 4 - 7 pm, with Trisagion service at 4 pm at Thomas J. Pirro Funeral Home, 3401 Vickery Road (corner of Buckley Road), North Syracuse, NY 13212.
Donations may be made to the George Andrew Armatas Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 325 Waring Road, Syracuse, NY 13224 or to the Crouse Health Foundation, 736 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210.
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