Obituary: Jennie 'Bessie' S. Papageorge, 95, Of Fairfield

The following obituary is from Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home:

Jennie “Bessie” S. Papageorge, age 95, the beloved wife of the late Angelus “Ange” Papageorge, passed away peacefully in her daughter’s (Fanny’s) home on November 14, 2023. She and Ange were married on June 20, 1948, in Bridgeport, CT and spent 62 wonderful years together. Born in Bridgeport on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1928, to the late Louis and Alexandra Spilios, she graduated from Central High School in Bridgeport (class of 1945). Bessie had many fond memories of walking to Seaside Park with her Yiayia and her family.

After she and Ange were married, they moved to Fairfield, where she resided for 71 years. After many years at home with her children, she attended Butler Business School in Bridgeport and worked as an Administrative Assistant for 20 years at Norden United Technologies, Norwalk.

Bessie was an active parishioner of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and a member of the Daughters of Penelope and the Ladies Philoptochos. She looked forward to attending the senior meetings at the church and volunteered for many of their activities including the annual festival. She also often visited the Fairfield Senior Center on Fridays.

Bessie enjoyed needlepointing, antiquing, and had an extensive Hummel collection. She also enjoyed crocheting and lovingly made Christmas stockings for everyone in the family, as well as for many friends of the family. Bessie and Ange loved hitting the road together, deeply enjoying visiting new states. Bessie also cherished many fond memories of visiting Greece with family and friends. For many years, the entire family would gather at the family home for holidays, where Bessie showed her love in baking the “perfect” kourabiedes and koulourakia Greek cookies. New Year’s Day was very special as it was Bessie’s birthday, and she would be “Queen” for the day.

Bessie looked forward to the neighborhood Reef Court picnics and holiday parties every year. One of her favorite pastimes was shopping in Westport and dropping in for a sandwich at Oscar’s to visit her oldest son Elias (Lee). The greatest sadness Bessie endured was losing Lee in 2016, whom she missed dearly every day.

Bessie is survived by her daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Papageorge (Fairfield), daughter, Frances “Fanny” P. Kochiss and her husband, Bob (Fairfield), son, Lucas “Luke” Papageorge and his wife, Brenda (Milford), and daughter, Sandra “Sandy” P. Mongillo and her husband, Joe (Branford).

Bessie was lovingly known as “Yiayia” to 11 grandchildren and “Yiayia Bessie” to 14 great-grandchildren. She was also survived by several godchildren (Nouna), cousins, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to being predeceased by her loving husband, Ange, and her beloved son, Elias (Lee), she was also predeceased by her brother, George, and a host of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Friends and family are invited to attend the Rite of Burial for Bessie at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Avenue in Bridgeport. The service will be on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 10 a.m., officiated by Father Georgios Livaditis Presbyter followed by interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield. Visitation will occur on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 2-5 p.m. at the Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road in Fairfield. A Trisagion Service will also be held on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bessie’s memory can be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

AIONIA I MNIMI – Memory Eternal