Mary Missiras, a longtime member of St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall who devoted more than 50 years to its Ladies Philoptochos Society, passed away on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the age of 97.
For more than 25 years, she chaired a Philoptochos committee that regularly prepared dinners for families of hospitalized children staying at Ronald McDonald House facilities on Chestnut Street and at Front and Erie in Philadelphia. She also served on the society’s board and numerous committees, encouraging women to join and helping new members understand its mission of caring for those in need.
Born in New York City on October 20, 1929, Mary was the youngest of three children of Harris and Parthena (Seiss) Lacoboulos. Her family later moved to Philadelphia, where she grew up in West Philadelphia and Upper Darby. She graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1948.
On May 6, 1951, she married Aristotle “Ted” Missiras at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia. They shared 62 years of marriage until his passing in 2013.
Mary worked for many years as a travel agent, and she and Ted owned Tourgroup Ltd., a travel agency in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Their travels took them frequently to Greece, Spain, and other destinations. She enjoyed hosting family and friends for dinner, and, as her family recalled, her door was always open.
The couple helped establish St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby, where Mary was also active in Philoptochos. She later became a devoted member of St. Luke, regularly attending Sunday and weekday services as well as weekly Bible classes. Her family remembers her familiar front-row seat at church.
Following Ted’s passing, Mary moved to The Sheldrake in Wayne, where she spent 10 years enjoying the company of longtime friends and new neighbors.
Remembered by her family as a beloved mother, Yiayia, and Thea, Mary was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brother, John H. Lacoboulos; and her sister, Sophia Barberes.
She is survived by her daughter, Diane Saphos, and her husband, Alexander; her son, Peter J. Missiras, and his wife, Patricia; and her grandchildren, Nicholas Saphos and Mary Ellen Trimble, whose husband is Stephen. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Martha Lacouboulos, nieces, nephews, goddaughters, cousins, and extended family.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 16, 2026, at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, 35 North Malin Road, Broomall, Pennsylvania. Viewing will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Fernwood Cemetery, 6501 Baltimore Avenue, Lansdowne.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the St. Luke Ladies Philoptochos Society, 35 North Malin Road, Broomall, PA 19008.
Additional information is available through Vraim Funeral Home.