Mary Georgiafandis

"Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said, today you will be with Me in Paradise" - Luke 23:42,43 Mary Manitzas Georgiafandis, beloved wife, sister, stepmother, aunt, grandmother and godmother, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, July 18, 2021, at home surrounded by her family. Mary was born in Greece on November 8, 1940 during WWII. Her father was an American citizen who dreamed of returning to America to educate his three daughters. Because the family could not all leave Greece immediately after the war, they made the difficult decision that Mary and her mother would remain in Greece while her father and older sisters left for America in 1946. Mary experienced much with her mother in the two years they waited for their immigration papers, including many lessons in patience, perseverance and determination. In 1948, Mary and her mother joined the rest of the family, who had settled in DeRidder, Louisiana. During her ten years in DeRidder, Mary went to school and met the Maskas family, who became special lifelong friends with the Manitzas family. Mary moved to Shreveport in 1957 and graduated from Fair Park High School. She followed her sisters to Northwestern State University graduating with a degree in Education in 1962, and later earned a Masters in Elementary Education Administration. Mary devoted 33 years to her career in education. She loved children and they loved her, because they instantly recognized her sincere interest in them along with her pure, gentle and fun-loving spirit. She was an elementary school teacher at several Caddo Parish schools and retired as Principal of Arthur Circle Elementary. Mary also served as president, district president, and in state offices for Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional association for women educators. Mary later became involved in the Caddo Retired Teachers Association, serving as president and chair of numerous committees. After retirement, she stayed busy with John, known as "Mr. George" at C.E. Byrd High School where he taught civics for many years. Mary was affectionately known as "Mrs. George" by the Key Club and Byrd faculty. She enjoyed having the Key Club officer meetings at their home and always served chocolate cake and Greek sweets. Mary was a loyal fan of the Byrd football and soccer teams and she always sang the Byrd alma mater with gusto. Mary and John enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and abroad, and loved spending time with their friends and family. She also loved attending the games and performances of her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and she was everyone's favorite babysitter. Mary's family and her faith were her life. She loved doing for others, and filled in the gaps for her entire family in the most selfless and magical way. She inspired everyone by modeling the patience she learned early in life. Her words of wisdom and peaceful mannerisms were valued by all who knew her. She possessed a natural gift for making those close to her feel loved and special, spoiling them with her abundant generosity. As a wife, sister, thea (aunt) and yiayia, she was the emotional backbone of the family, and was often called the "boss". She will always be cherished and her loving spirit will be forever present. She lived a long, rich and full life and she was grateful to God for her many blessings. May her memory be eternal! She was a devoted member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where she served as President of the parish council, a dedicated choir member for 60 years, and an active member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society. She worked tirelessly to support the church whether in the kitchen cooking or raising funds for many worthy causes. Mary was also a dedicated member of the Daughters of Penelope, where she held several offices on the local, district and national level, eventually serving as National Grand President. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Anastasia and Harry Manitzas; brothers-in-law, Stanley Georgiafandis, Steve Georgiafandis and Charles Malachias; sisters-in-law, Ethel Apesos and Julia Moutsatsos; and family friend, Ellie Maskas. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 31 years, John Georgiafandis; sisters, Katina Booras and Helen Malachias; brother-in-law, Sammy Booras; and stepchildren and grandchildren; George, Chris, Anthony and Eleni Georgiafandis, Callie and Brian Schambach, and Luke and Katie Smith. Mary is also survived by her adoring nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, Bobby Booras, Pat Booras, Steven, Tracie and Matthew Booras; Chris, Stacy, Athan, Michael, Kalliope and Stefan Cosse; Richard, Kris Diane, Kelly, Eleni, Christina and Charlie McGee; Ilya Malachias, Bobby Malachias; John Paul, Katie, Libby, Ellie and JP Schulze, and Christopher Booras. Mary considered her closest friends and godchildren her family. She is also survived by her dear friends Nancy and Bill Young, and Helen and Ben Johnson, and her godchildren Charles Steven Maskas, Dr. Viki Panos, Tracie Booras, Laura Thompson and Presvytera Ashley Foster. The family extends their appreciation to Dr. Roan Flenniken and staff, Dr. Corky Davis, Christus Schumpert Hospital and Jessica Carter from St. Joseph Hospice for their care and compassion. The family also would like to thank the caregivers of Caring Hands, Yolanda Vance and Lakreshia Anderson for their loving tender care. Friends are invited to a visitation at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. followed by an Orthodox Trisagion Memorial Service at 6:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1719 Creswell Avenue, officiated by Rev. Fathers Ioannis Krokos and Jason Foster. Interment will immediately follow the service at Greenwood Cemetery, 130 E. Stoner Avenue. In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, memorial donations may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1719 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101. "Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies, Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me."