Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

April 5, 2025

CHARLOTTE – It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Zorita “Rita” Palassis Castanas on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Rita was born in Charleston, South Carolina on February 10, 1941, and was a graduate of James Simmons School, Rivers High School and the Palmer Business College. 

She married George Castanas of Charlotte, North Carolina in Charleston on November 3, 1963, and the couple moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina before settling in Charlotte. Rita was a lovely homemaker and was a dedicated and loving mother, raising her three children, Nicole, Dina and Demetre.  She would recall herself as the quintessential soccer mom before soccer moms having balanced school for three, soccer games, scouts, horse-back riding, swim team, music lessons, more sports, and church.  Many will recall often seeing Rita’s ever-smiling face at the Castanas’ The Epicurean Restaurant, Charlotte’s pillar of fine dining, open from 1959 until its closing in 1998.  She enjoyed being a part of her friends’ celebrations at The Epicurean– births, graduations, milestones, and anniversaries – even warmly welcoming surprise visits through the back door from nieces and nephews on their way home from Virginia and North Carolina colleges.  Charlotteans will nostalgically remember her for her catering company and her perpetuation of the secret Epicurean biscuit recipe popularly ordered from there for years.

Family will remember Rita for her resilience and giving nature. She was the beloved sister of her two brothers, Costa (Gus) Palassis (+) and Jimmy Palassis.  Rita is appreciated for her support of her mother, Georgia Banis Palassis (+), who after the death of Rita’s father in 1948, added the management of grocery stores and real estate holdings to her responsibilities in her family’s lodging business at age 29.  Rita was there for her brothers and as her family grew, she warmly welcomed each new spouse, niece, nephew, grandchild, cousin and friend with the same spirit.

Rita will be forever remembered for her grace, strength, kind nature, love of children and her faith.  She was a lifetime contributing member of The Ladies Philoptochos Society giving organization, Daughters of Penelope cultural society, and St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, where she served as Steward and served on the Membership Committee, among numerous organizations to whom she never said, “No.”  Rita was the willing volunteer, a true southern lady.

Rita is survived by her husband of 62 years, George James Castanas; her three children, Nicole Castanas, Dina Castanas and Demetre Castanas; daughter-in-law, Ashley Castanas; her grandchildren, James Castanas, and Noah Castanas; her brother, Jimmy Palassis, and sister-in-law, Cookie Palassis; nephew, Nicholas Palassis, niece, Elaina Palassis England and her husband, Erin England and their children.  She was predeceased by her parents, Nicholas Constantine Palassis and Georgia Banis Palassis and her brother, Constantine Nicholas Palassis all of Charleston, South Carolina. 

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, April 14, 2025, at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte, NC.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church.  Interment will be private at Bethany Cemetery in Charleston, SC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Rita Palassis Castanas to, Memory & Movement Charlotte, 411 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 103, Charlotte, NC 28211 or via the web at https://www.mmclt.org/donate/.

May Her Memory Be Eternal.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral Home, 1321 Berkeley Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.