Maria Colias August 25, 1917 - June 23, 2010 Maria Colias of Waco passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 26, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church with Father Theodore Ted Tsitsilianos officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation is to begin at 7:00 p.m., and the Trisagion Service will be at 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 25, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Maria was born August 25, 1917, in Leonidion, Greece, to John and Eleni Kalantzis. She emigrated to the U.S. upon her marriage in 1950 to naturalized citizen and Waco businessman, Victor Colias, who was born in Greece in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Colias had three children and built a home in Waco, where she lived independently since she was widowed in 1980. She was 92 years old and enjoyed a close relationship with her family who cared for her in the tradition of the Colias brothers, who co-owned and operated three family restaurants, the Elite Cafes, in Waco for 63 years, each taking responsibilities with good humor and respect. She has been a long time member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Waco. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Victor Nicholas Colias. She is survived by her daughter, Vivian Colias Jones and husband, Jeffery, of The Woodlands, TX., her sons, Nick Colias of Waco, and John V. Colias and wife, Antonia, of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren, Ariana, Vasilios, Andrew, John W. and Katherine Katie; and her brothers, Angelo Kalantzis and wife, Irene, of Carrollton, TX; George Kalantzis and wife, Ely; sisters, Koula Mamae and Katherine Velalis, all of Athens, Greece. Also surviving are nieces and nephews, Fr. John Kalantzis and wife, Michelle, Elaine Mays and husband, George, Elias Kalantzis, Evelyn Katsigris, Nikos Colias, John G. Colias, Pat Antoniou, Carolyn Colias, Tina Angelo, Katherine Dameris, Paul Sermas, Gus Sermas, Patricia Sermas, Angelo Sermas, Mary Kalantzis, Olga Kalantzis, Anna Ioannidis, Pantelis Velalis, Takis Mamae, Flora Mamae and Eleni Mamae. Maria's godchildren are Evan Klaras and Toula Zouboukos Odom. Pallbearers are Vasilios Colias, Andrew Colias, Jeff Jones, George Mays, Angelo Sermas, Evan Klaras, and Dimitri Antoniou. Memorials may be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.
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