Marika Arvanitis Boshkos

Marika (Mary) Arvanitis Boshkos, 94 passed away peacefully on September 9, 2021, and joined her husband Boris in Heaven. 

She will be missed by all who knew her.  Her life began in Argos Oresticon, Greece.  Raised by loving parents as an only child, she learned the family business of growing and processing tobacco as a teenager, as well as working in the mink trade.  During WWII and the Nazi occupation of Greece, she was instrumental in keeping the village peace by organizing formal dances between the village girls and German officers.   After the war, with her father widowed, her destiny was to accept an invitation from her future husband to cross the Atlantic alone, arrive at a new country (Toronto, Canada then the USA) to stay with relatives she had never met, learn a new language, then meet and fall in love with her future husband.  Just before leaving her homeland, never to see her father again, she learned from her father that she had an older sister, and that she and her sister were given up for adoption at the time of Marika’s brith and biological mother’s death.  Fifty-two years would pass before she and her sister met for the first time.  Her life in America was a storybook tale of living the American dream.  Her husband’s restaurant, whom he co-owned with his brother-in-law, flourished while she worked as a hostess and also as a commercial seamstress.  She volunteered countless hours at Baba’s Kitchen (St. Elia Orthodox Church) and Gyro Luncheon (Annunciations Greek Orthodox Church).  She volunteered at Summa Health System, delivering flowers to inpatients.  Marika never met a vitamin she didn’t like.  Her home was filled with books on natural remedies.  She was fluent in Greek, Macedonian and English.  With only a 4th grade education, she taught herself to read and write English and cherished her citizenship.   Education pursuits were paramount to her.  Marika led a faith-filled life in the Orthodox Church and she loved her American life with Boris.

She is survived by son, Christopher (Vicki); grandsons, Benjamin and Mitchell whom she adored and were her pride and joy; nieces, Mary (Angelo) Nicoloff, Millie Damianov, Nikki (Don) Stock, Tasoula (Yanni) Apostolidou, nephews Panayote and Manolie, plus numerous great nieces and nephews. 

In accordance with Marika’s wishes, there will be no calling hours.

A Memorial Service limited to immediate family will be held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio, followed by burial at Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton, Ohio.

If desired, remembrances may be made to Annunciations Greek Orthodox Church, Akron, Ohio or Summa Health System Hospice Services.

We would like to thank Summa Health System Geriatric and Hospice Services from where she received loving, compassionate care from all caregivers, especially Kelly and Ola, as well as The Maplewood Senior Living Staff in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

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