Our beloved Aunt Kitty was born on February 15, 1924 in Philadelphia and fell asleep in the
Lord on May 3, 2020 after contracting COVID-19. She was preceded in death by her parents,
Michael and Evangelia Diamandas (Diamond); infant brother Petros; sister Florence Marlos (Markopoulos) and her
husband Simon; sister Jean Vastardis; brother James P. Diamond; and nephew James M.
Diamond. She is survived by adoring nieces and nephew Tina Marlos Tsiadis (Niko), Litsa Marlos
Varonis (Orestes), Thekla Vastardis, and Steven Diamond; loving great-nephews and nieces
Christian Lenty (Nui), Yianni and Maria Varonis, and Aaron, James, and Genesis Diamond; sister-
in-law Kass Diamond, and cousins John Diamond (Theresa) and Katherine Chletcos.
As the child of refugees from Tsesme, Asia Minor, Aunt Kitty scraped through turbulent times
during the depression as a child and teenager and emerged with a strong work ethic, great
resourcefulness, fiscal responsibility, and resolute commitment to live with integrity and
kindness. After graduating from West Philadelphia High School, she worked as an insurance
claims administrator at Provident Insurance until her retirement and maintained lifelong
friendships with her colleagues Joan “Shady” McCormick and Pat Doyle, with whom she also
enjoyed international travel, and she kept every receipt. As Yiayia Evangelia was the family
matriarch, Aunt Kitty was frequently involved in hosting holiday dinners at their home and
sometimes even let us taste her special gravy while it was still cooking. When Yiayia slowed
down as she lived into her nineties, Aunt Kitty took care of her and maintained a sense of
humor, sharing stories that made us laugh. She adored summer vacations in Ocean City NJ and
some of our fondest memories are of staying all together, splashing in the ocean and walking
the boards together at night in the days of Copper Kettle Fudge, Planters Peanuts, Frank’s Arcade,Ward's jelly
donuts, and on special occasions the “big amusements.” Despite her careful upbringing, she
had a spirit of adventure, was once pictured skiing on the cover of a widely-distributed
Provident publication, and rode an elephant in Thailand at the time of Chris’s wedding to Nui.
Aunt Kitty loved all of us unconditionally and never forgot a birthday. Μay her memory be
eternal – Αιωνία η Μνήμη της.
She regularly supported the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. George in Philadelphia, St. Basil’s
Academy in Garrison New York, International Orthodox Christian Charities, and her nephew
Christian’s ministry in Thailand via Surface Creek Christian Church in Austin, CO. Please direct
any donations to those organizations, or to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese COVID-19 Relief
Fund.
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to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Catherine M. Diamond, please visit our floral store.