Athena Janikis

Athena Janikis, 87, of Massillon, passed away on Thursday, June 08, 2017 at Affinity Medical Center. She was born on March 7, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio to Stratis and Evangeline (Papaefstratiou) Fotiades. Athena married John Janikis on October 8, 1950. They shared 66 loving years together. She worked for the Ohio Unemployment Bureau as a claims examiner and retired in 1990 after 20 years of service. Athena was a member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church where she served many years with the Ladies Philoptochos Society and was a Sunday school teacher. She was also a member of the Massillon Woman’s Club. Athena also had a strong love for her family, friends and our Lord. She loved to bake, cook and share her goodies with her friends and family. She will be deeply missed to all those that knew her. In addition to her parents, Athena was preceded in death by her brother, Simeon Fotiades. She is survived by her husband John; sons, Emanuel (Leslie) Janikis and Tom (Julie Jones) Janikis; grandchildren John Adam (fiancée Ashley Neuhauser), John James, Emily (Jaz) Vailoces, Michael, Samantha and Zachary; 1 great-granddaughter Stella Mae. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at the Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon. A Trisagion service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held June 15, 2017 at 11 a.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Massillon with one hour of calling hours prior to the service. Entombment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 364 1st St. SE, Massillon, Ohio, 44646.