Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

April 24, 2025

FORT MILL- Our dear mother, Kyriaki “Kiki” Kyrani, 74, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 24, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma. She was born on March 22, 1951, in Metamorphosis, Attiki, Greece, to the late Georgios and Aikaterini Kyrani.

Kiki was a stellar student. She was recognized by the Greek Department of Education at just nine years old for her exceptional writing accomplishments. Although family circumstances prevented her from continuing her formal education, Kiki remained a lifelong learner, an avid reader, and a passionate advocate for education, sacrificing greatly to champion the academic pursuits of her children and grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Kiki lived in Athens, Greece; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Fort Mill,
South Carolina. She was first and foremost a devoted homemaker—the heart and soul of her family. She also worked as a cook and later as a chef, sharing her extraordinary culinary talents with the broader community. Deeply rooted in the traditions of Mikra
Asia, she elevated cooking to an art form, passing her skills and love of Greek heritage on to her children and grandchildren.

Kiki lived her life with quiet grace, resilience, and a boundless generosity of spirit. Despite her private battle with cancer, she never lost hope and approached each day with patience and perseverance. She extended her compassion beyond her family, often helping those in need within her community, usually in secret and without seeking recognition. Her love for children and animals was especially profound.

Above all, Kiki will be remembered for her open heart, her warm smile, and the loving embrace she so freely gave. She was an ever-present part of her grandchildren’s lives, nurturing and guiding them from the very beginning. Her garden in Greece was a
beautiful haven, reflecting her love of nature and her talent for creating beauty wherever she went. She also found great joy in traditional Greek music and took pride in sharing her cultural heritage with her family. A devoted member of the Greek Orthodox Church, Kiki’s faith was a guiding force in her life.

Kiki is survived by her daughters, Aikaterini Papasaranti Coker and her husband, Rick O’Neil Coker, and Athina Nikoleta Papasaranti and her husband, Spyridon Stamos Georgaras; her beloved grandchildren, Philip O’Neil Coker and Nikolas Alexander Coker; her brothers, Dimitrios Kyranis and his wife, Afroditi Kyrani and their children, Stavros Kyranis, and Aikaterini Kyrani; and Timotheos Kyranis and his wife, Marianthi Kyrani and their children, Georgios Kyranis, and Aikaterini Kyrani; and her nieces and nephews from her late Sister, Yiannis Karadimas, Petros Karadimas, Routh Aikaterini Karadima, and Stefanos Karadimas. She also leaves behind her former husband, Alexandros Papasarantis and cherished friend, Despoina Dimitriou.

Funeral services for Kiki will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Kiki to Alma Zois (https://almazois.gr/) or St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte, NC 28270.

Kiki’s love, generosity, and indomitable spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

May Her Memory Be Eternal.

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