Chryssa Kalinoglou

Chryssa Paraskevopoulos Kalinoglou

July 26, 1939 - April 4, 2025

Chryssa was born in Tripolis, Greece to Vasiliki Kayianas and George Paraskevopoulos, an officer in the Greek army. The youngest of six daughters, Chryssa was between 9 and 17 younger than her very protective sisters. When she was still a young girl, the family moved to Piraeus, the port of Athens. After school, Chryssa took French lessons and became fluent.

Seeking more independence, Chryssa decided to pursue studies in the U.S., arriving in New York by ship in 1959. She attended Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, NY - a teachers college for young women of Greek descent with an adjacent orphanage. Chryssa enjoyed her studies as well as her classmates, becoming Class President, and after graduating in 1962 keeping in contact with several dear friends through the years. During summer breaks, she stayed with relatives in Boston and worked as a nurse's aide. She quickly learned English and became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

On the day she arrived in NY from Greece, Chryssa met John Kalinoglou who was attending a conference at Saint Basil Academy. They kept correspondence through letters while John was in the U.S. Army. On November 28, 1964, John and Chryssa were married at Saints Constantine and Helen Church in Washington, D.C. There Chryssa also worked as a teacher and church administrator, and helped to found their Parochial School.

In the following years, Chryssa and John lovingly raised two daughters, moving from Maryland to Florida and then to Georgia. Chryssa was a caring mother and grandmother, passionate gardener, self-taught cook and exceptional baker, even teaching a Hawthorne Elementary class in her kitchen. John and Chryssa enjoyed visiting many countries on four continents.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, John, and survived by their daughters Anna Laura and Julia, and grandson John Parker Overton.

+We pray that her memory will be eternal in our Lord's kingdom.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to Saint Basil Academy - Licensed Greek Orthodox Resident Childcare Facility. https://sbagoa.org/