After a brief, but swift illness, Mary Anagnostou passed peacefully to sleep on January 19, 2018, at her home in Wilmington, Delaware surrounded by her family and pets.
Mary was born in 1933 in the Pocono Mountains in the town of Lehighton, Pennsylvania to George and Anna Kobal.
In the summer of 1951, Mary met a dark, handsome man visiting from Greece. Although they knew little about each other and had nothing in common, God drew them together, and they married that September. From this time, Mary’s life story must be told with Pete’s. They built a loving home in Wilmington, Delaware where they raised their two daughters. For over 25 years, they owned and operated the Lehigh Sub Shop, a small but memorable business in Newport and Stanton.
For 60 years, Mary and Pete experienced laughter and tears, struggles and success, and were devoted to each other.
Upon retiring from Lehigh Sub Shop, Mary reinvented herself. She began a career at Head Start in Stanton where she taught, embraced, and loved hundreds of children during her 15 years of service. Pete would often join her in the classroom, reading and telling stories to the children.
Mary was a giver. She gave to her family, to her husband’s family, to her friends, to her community, and to her students.
Mary was not a joiner, but where she belonged, she gave entirely of herself. Mary and Pete were very involved in both their community and they belonged to a variety of organizations in the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington. Mary and Pete were often found helping at the Church and at the annual Greek Festival.
Mary and Pete took frequent trips to both Mary’s hometown in Lehighton and Pete’s hometown in Chios, Greece. After Pete’s passing Mary preferred to spend her days close to home with her daughters and their pets.
In December, Mary celebrated her 84th birthday at her annual “Bloody Mary Sunday Brunch” with her adopted daughters, and spent the holidays visiting her family in the Poconos, not realizing it would be her last trip over the river and through the woods.
Mary often said she went from her parents’ arms to her husband’s arms, to her children’s arms and finally to God’s embrace. Mary will be joining her husband, her parents, and many other loved ones. Mary is leaving behind her daughters Anthoula and Anamaria; her four beloved pets Boo, Stoney, Freida, and Anya; her goddaughter Virginia Karablacas; her sisters Anna Szoke, Betty Kripper, Rose Kraus, and Sandy Schaeffer, and her brother Charles Kobal; and her many nieces, nephews and friends who loved her dearly.
Mary’s sudden passing will be a shock to many of her friends to whom she will be remembered as vibrant, energetic, and loving. And when you smell the scent of roses, you will know Mary is with you.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. At the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 808 N. Broom Street, Wilmington, DE 19806. Friends may visit between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, or Senior Dog Haven & Hospice, P.O. Box 1441, Wilmington, DE 19804.
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