Obituary of Costula Kokenes

Connie (Costula) Kalteziotis Kokenes Mrs. Kokenes,83, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 18, 2009 at Plantation Estates in Matthews, NC. She was born June 30, 1926 in Tripolis, Arkadia, Greece, the third of four children of Demosthenis and Hariklea Kalteziotis of the village Kapsia. She graduated high school during WWII in the German occupation of Greece and lived in the family home in Tripolis with her grandmother Kanella and German officers who were billeted there. In 1949 she immigrated to the United States, where she lived for several years with relatives in Chicago, Atlanta, and Charlotte. In 1955 she married Speros G. Kokenes of Charlotte with whom she had two sons Constantine and Dennis. In the early years they lived on Summit Ave across from Mr. Kokenes? business, the World Famous Open Kitchen restaurant, moving in the 1960?s to the South Park area where the family lived for nearly 40 years. After her husband?s tragic death in 1967, Connie dedicated her life to raising her two sons, along with her mother-in-law Vasiliki, who stayed on in the family home until her passing in 1981. One of Connie?s proudest accomplishments was being among the founding families of Charlotte Latin School, where she enrolled her sons at the school?s opening in 1970 and actively participated in school activities and parents? organizations. Long before ?English as Second Language? programs, Connie took courses at CPCC to improve her language skills and was often the only non-native in her classes. She enjoyed volunteering at Presbyterian Hospital as a Red Cross Gray Lady where her favorite assignment was bathing and caring for newborns. Connie was fiercely proud of her Greek Orthodox heritage, the love of which she sought to instill in her sons by teaching them the Greek language and culture at home, as well as by taking them regularly to Greece in the 1960?s and 70?s. She was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral where she was a member of Philoptochos, the women?s organization. Connie?s life was marked by a 50 year struggle with severe rheumatoid arthritis for which she underwent multiple medical therapies and surgical procedures. Despite the pain and ever decreasing mobility which impacted her daily life, she bore up with a courage and stoicism that was an example to all. In her middle and later years she was chair bound and no longer able to participate in public life, remaining mainly at home until 2001 when she took up residence at Plantation Estates. Life there was a rebirth for Connie; she relished her newfound friends and being a member of a community again, as well as regaining the freedom of movement which the facility?s special accommodations gave her in her motorized wheelchair. During her final years, Connie?s greatest joy was her five grandchildren of whom she was very proud. She relished their visits and avidly followed their progress and accomplishments. Connie is survived by her loving children Constantine Kokenes of Atlanta and Dennis Kokenes and wife Kabee of Charlotte. She will be missed by her grandchildren Speros, Paul, and Connie Kokenes of Atlanta, Rachel and Lea Kokenes of Charlotte. She is also survived by her brother John Caltis, his wife Georgia and her nieces Lilly Huffman of Raleigh and Kate Caltis of Charlotte as well as by several cousins, nephews and nieces in the United States and Greece. The family extends a special and heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff at Plantation Estates and to Connie?s Hospice team for their loving care. Trisagion prayers will be offered at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2009, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, with the family receiving visitors in the church from 6:00p.m., and following the service in the social hall. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral with Father Michael Varvarelis, Father Steve Dalber and Father Efstathios Varvarelis officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery on Central Ave. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Speros and Paul Kokenes; nephews Dean and Alex Kokenes and Nick Mamalis, Pete Giannikas, George Miller, Gary, George and John Anderson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Iconography Fund, 600 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 or Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church Iconography Fund, 5108 Kuykendall Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270.