Antigoni Gakis

Antigoni Gakis (née Ourdas), age 92, started her journey into God’s Kingdom, surrounded by
her daughter and granddaughters, in the early morning of November 9th, 2024.
Antigoni was born to the late Paraskeva and Dimitra Ourdas, in Edessa, Greece with her
siblings, the late Aikaterini (Koukas) and Christos Ourdas.
Antigoni later married the love of her life, Aristokratis Gakis in Thessaloniki, Greece, and soon
after, welcomed their two daughters Katherine (Karapalides) and the late Dimitra (Seherlis).
They later emigrated to the United States and settled in Upper Darby, PA. This is where they
built their home, which was filled with lots of love, happiness and challenges that made each
day exciting and fun.
While raising her children, Antigoni would help them with their English and made sure that they
were ready for school. Her daughter, Kathy, recalls her mother “making sure that my alphabet
looked just like the teacher’s paper at the age of 6. I had to write that alphabet over and over
again until ‘it looked just like the teacher’s’. This was all done on top of my little suitcase that
my mother bought for me in Greece, for our trip to our new home in America. Mom, thank you
for pushing me to do it right.” Antigoni not only wanted Kathy to do everything right, she
wanted to push her family to be the best that they can be.
Antigoni was at her happiest in the company of her family, especially with her grandchildren,
who she had a very close relationship with or later in life, with her daughter Kathy. They would
talk and drink coffee, or go out together on their long trips with no return. Those memories are
something that will be cherished with her family members to the end of time.
Even though Antigoni was thrown with different obstacles in life, she showed everyone how
much of a leader, fighter, and a strong person she was and that we knew her to be. Antigoni
was also kind, warm, generous, and had a loving spirit which was shown in everything that she
did, and this is something that will not be forgotten, but remembered forever.
Preceded in joining the Lord are Antigoni’s mother and father; husband, Aristokratis; daughter,
Dimitra (Seherlis); sister, Aikaterini (Koukas); and nephew Dimitrios Koukas.
Antigoni is survived by daughter Katherine (Karapalides); brother, Christos Ourdas;
grandchildren Christina (James Albertini); Demetra Karapalides; and Konstantinos Seherlis, as
well as several loving nieces and nephews.
Friends and Family are welcomed to join Antigoni’s viewing on Wednesday, November 20th
2024 at 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM at Arlington Cemetery & Toppitzer Funeral Home. Following the
viewing will be a private funeral service with the immediate family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Antigoni Gakis, please visit our floral store.