Costandia “Tina” Zervoudis, peacefully fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 92 on Monday, September 17, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Costandia was born in the village of Mesa Didima on the island of Chios, Greece on September 8, 1926. She was married to her husband, Chrysostomos Zervoudis, for 42 loving years until his death on April 5, 1990.
Costandia immigrated to Philadelphia in 1970, where she spent many years working as a seamstress. She was a devoted member of the Annunciation/Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church and an active member of the Philoptochos. Costandia enjoyed baking the prosphora for church services and loved teaching the tradition to others. Her most favorite time to serve the church was by cooking loukoumades at the annual Greek Festival. She took great pride in making her special recipe and loved it so much that people in the community would call it her paniyiri (her major celebration).
Costandia enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint, gardening and most of all bringing her family together for a delicious meal. Her grandchildren could often be found hovering around the kitchen, sneaking samples of the delicious food she would prepare for her large family. Turning the most humble ingredients into a delicious meal, she had even been known to pull off the side of the road for the perfect crop of chorta (dandelion greens).
She is survived by her 3 children Terry Contoudis, Julie (Costas) Kakaras, and Costas (Zoi) Zervoudis; 10 grandchildren Jim (Leslie) Contoudis, Chris (Eleni) Contoudis, George (Renee) Kakaras, Karen (Rob) Buzard, Despina (Peter) Lamas, Nikki (Jimmy) Glekas, Martha (Jason) Stanwood, Chris (Megan) Kakaras, Chris (Eleni) Zervoudis, Connie (Harry) Laspee; 25 great-grandchildren Tori Contoudis, Tina Glekas, John Contoudis, Dean Kakaras, Theo Contoudis, Julia Kakaras, Jonathan Contoudis, TJ Buzard, James Kakaras, Will Buzard, Anthony Contoudis, Zoe Glekas, Anastasia Lamas, Eli Kakaras, Nickolas Glekas, Juliana Lamas, Alexia Contoudis, Julie Kakaras, Christina Glekas, Arthur Lamas, Gus Kakaras, Angeli Stanwood, Charlie Kakaras, Harry Laspee, and Dean Stanwood; brother Efthimi (Despina) Mikedis; sister-in-law Anna Mikedis and many nieces and nephews as well as family in Greece.
She is preceded in death by her parents Yianni and Argiro Mikedis, husband Chrysostomos Zervoudis, brother Niko Mikedis, son-in-law John Contoudis, and granddaughter Christina Zervoudis.
A Funeral Service will be held Monday, September 24 at 11 am at Annunciation /Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, 7921 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. Family and friends may pay their respects from 10am-11am at the church prior to services. Interment will follow at Lawnview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church in her honor.