Lillian Carras Trakas

November 25, 2018

 Lillian “Lilly” Carras Trakas, 88, of Charlotte, NC and formerly of Spartanburg, SC, died peacefully Sunday, November 25, 2018. Born January 20, 1930 on the Island of Ikaria, Greece, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas Stephanos Carras and Irene Tsantes Carras and the widow of Gus Nicholas Trakas. 

At the tender age of eight years old, Lilly came to America with her parents and had a wonderful life growing up with family and friends in Wilmington, NC. In 1959, she married and moved to Spartanburg, SC where she became very active in the parish life of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.  Lilly enjoyed singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and serving with the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, the philanthropic arm of the church. 

After the passing of her husband, Gus, Lilly retired from her 19 years of work  at the Charles Lea Center in Spartanburg and moved to Charlotte to be with her daughters and grandchildren. She joined St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church which quickly became her new “home away from home” where she was very active.  Her life’s treasures were her eight grandchildren.  “Yiayia Falio” had the perfect blend of humor and wisdom to love on them and teach them EVERYTHING they needed to know.  Others also benefitted from her outpouring of wisdom – you may have been one of them! 

Survivors include her children, Nicholas S. Trakas (Maureen) of Stroudsburg, PA, Stephanos G. Trakas (Lena) of Greenville, SC, Joanna Trakas Cavalaris (Jimmy) and Irene Trakas Liapis (Bill) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Nikki Trakas Ottomanelli (Chris), Zoe Cavalaris, Thomas Cavalaris, Maria Liapis, Grace Trakas, Dimitri Liapis, Victoria Trakas and Christina Liapis; and sister, Demetra Carras Shokkos (Charles). In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Stephanos Nicholas Carras. 

Visitation is from 6:00pm – 8:00pm Thursday, November 29, 2018 with the 7:00 PM Trisagion.  The Funeral Service is Friday, November 30, 2018 at 11:30 AM.  Services will be held at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Rd., Charlotte, NC and officiated by The Rev. Steve Dalber and The Rev. John Wallace. Interment will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:00 AM in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC and led by The Rev. George Nayfa and The Rev. Tom Pistolis. 

Pallbearers are Dimitri Liapis, Thomas Cavalaris, Chris Ottomanelli, Ian Alexander, Harry Cavalaris, Jason Kekas, Perry Siatis and John Tsantes. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made payable to St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church benefitting the mission work at St. Peter’s College in Ghana or Child of God Academy in Kenya and mail to 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte, NC 28270. 

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

 

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Comments

  • Bess and Jake Gurley

    Joanna, I remember meeting your sweet mom and dad many years ago. They were such special people. May you find comfort in remembering your life with them and know that they are together again. May their memory be eternal...Bess and Jake

  • Jimmy and Barbara Copses

    Please accept our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy...May she Rest In Peace In a beautiful place where ther no suffering or pain..God Bless

  • Tina Sotiropoulos

    So very sorry for your loss! May her memories be eternal!

  • Marian Pantazis Sunas

    To Lillian's entire family. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Lillian was my friend growing up as young girls in Wilmington.I have so many happy memories,which we shared together in Carlotte years ago. Our St.Nicholas Church family, Greek School,Choir and the Greek dances in our Church Hall. I will always remember her sweet smile and her beautiful voice. Ζωή Σε Σας.

  • Maria Collias

    What an inspiration and role model Lilly was to all who knew her! She is a beautiful soul. I loved her, and so did Nick, and feel honored to have known her. Deepest sympathy to her children and grandchildren. Loosing your mother is wrenching. Sending love and prayers.

    Maria Collias

  • Judith Ann Kerhulas Lamond

    So sorry for the loss of your dear mother.

  • Theodora (Lola) Loizides

    Being a lifelong resident of Wilmington I shared many years with Lillian through our church St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox in Wilmington both in Philoptochos and through teaching Sunday School and as a choir member. Lillian was such an added asset to our choir with her beautiful voice and dedication to all church activities. My husband Michael and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family. Zoe se sas!

  • Dean Angeles

    Nick and Lille Trakas’s children, Joanna, Steve and Irene participated in the Spartanburg District 7 string program. They were were wonderful parents who supported the Orchestra. I remember Nick was co chair of the parents group, responsible for the orchestra making the 1980 concert tour ro Greece and Romania tour a reality.
    I also remember spending a lovely evening at their home with my mother. They were very special people with wonderful children.
    So happy Lilli had a long life surrounded by her children and grand children.

  • Sonja Stefanadis

    May I extend my sincere sympathies to Lilly's entire family. She was a lovely person both inside and out. My late husband, Gus Stefanadis, and his late brother, Steve Stephanadis, grew up in Wilmington with the Carras Family and they both spoke fondly of memories in Wilmington. I remember coming to Charlotte for the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood and how welcome Lilly made me feel. May she rest in peace and her memory be eternal.

  • Androulla, Andriana and Nicholas Fedorchak

    We are so sorry for your loss, Lilly was an amazing person with a big heart. She will be missed very much.

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