Mary Parras

Mary (Kalaidges) Parras passed away suddenly on February 27, 2022. 

She was born on July 20, 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Nicholas and Julia Kalaidges and was an only child.   Her mother had deep emotional scars from the wars in Greece which proved challenging for Mary while growing up.  She was fortunate enough to live on Locust Street and close to St. George Cathedral where her family were members and where she attended Sunday School. 

She was fortunate enough to get a part-time job at Parras Radio and Greek Store on Locust Street (Greek Town).  She worked at the store and there met William (Bill) Parras whom she married on June 21, 1953.  They moved to Upper Darby in 1954 and attended St. Demetrios, which at that time was in Philadelphia and then Upper Darby.  

She was a member of St. Demetrios for approximately 68 years where she was a Sunday School teacher, a Sunday School Director, a choir member, a member of Philoptochos and looked forward to the annual St. Demetrios Festival every year. 

She was also a member of the Daughters of Penelope Chapter of Upper Darby and the Pan Macedonian Society of Philadelphia.

She was a devoted Mother to her two children, Constantina and Christos,  a Grandmother to Evangelos Verikakis,(Shannon), William Parras, Marianne Parras Bonner (Charles), William Verikakis (Melissa) and Victoria Parras.  A beloved  Great Grandmother to Skylar, Brooklyn, Paraskevas, Brielle, Charles, and Constantina Indiana.

Her spirituality was an essential part of her life and devoted to her Greek Orthodox religion.  It was crucial for her to attend church and partake of The Divine Liturgy.  Although she was 90 she insisted on fasting for the 40 day Lenten period and looked forward to celebrating Easter. 

The Greek traditions were also vitally important to her as well.  She insisted on speaking the Greek language and instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the importance of our religion, our cultural traditions and the beauty of the Greek language.

God brought Mary home as the Lenten period begins.  He made sure that we would all remember her and her devotion to her Orthodoxy every year during this most spiritual time.

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