Athena Markou

MARKOU, Mrs. Athena
of Portage, Michigan
Formerly of Riverview, Michigan Athena Markou, age 82, died on Sunday, August 12, 2012 in Kalamazoo, MI . She was born November 29, 1929 in Keramidia, Greece, a daughter of Anastasios and Theodora Alexopoulou, and immigrated to the United States when she was 19 years old. She met Constantine Markou at a dance and after a short courtship, they were united in marriage on January 26, 1958. Athena was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Southgate, MI. She was a great cook and loved to welcome friends and family and make them feel at home. She also was a prolific knitter and an incredibly active "Hockey Mom". Athena and Constantine moved to Portage in 2002 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed a long, happy marriage of 55 years and did everything together like lovebirds. Athena was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, a sister, a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law. She is survived by: her husband, Constantine; three children, Andigoni Markou Blankenship, Spiro Markou and Anastase Markou; a daughter-in-law, Britt Hartenberger; a former daughter-in-law, Colleen Markou; three grandchildren, Kimberly Anne Blankenship, Keelin Athena Markou and Ariadne June Markou; a sister, Sophia Nicholas of Detroit, and brother-in-law, Christ, and a cousin, Alexandria Deskins. She also leaves behind devoted nieces and nephews of the Nicholas Family, Pete, Jimmy, Freda and Dora. Please join us in the remembering and celebration of Athena Markou's life. Visitation will be held Friday from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. Services will be held at 2:00 Saturday at the Annunciation Church, 507 S. Westnedge Ave., with Fr. John Moutafis, officiating. Burial in Portage Central Cemetery will follow services. Memorials should be directed to the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, 360 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1109, Chicago, IL 60601 www.panhellenicscholarships.org .