Maria H. Kyriacou - Obituary

n May 15, 2021, Maria Kyriacou, 95, joined her husband John in Heaven, on the little farm he promised to have ready for them when she arrived. A true Renaissance woman, Maria--"Maritsou" to her family, "Yiayia" to her grandchildren--was unapologetically herself, an individual of many talents and skills, bright and loving, fiery and fierce. In 1952, her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Savvas and Margie Pantelides, offered to help the family escape the poverty and oppression of British-ruled Cyprus. The most painful moment of her life was saying goodbye to her grieving father, who told her he would die if she left. The very hour she set foot in America, her father died of a broken heart. For many years, the couple owned and operated the "Royal Valet'' on West Street, in Annapolis. Maria was a woman of many talents: expert seamstress to a community, inspirer of college essays, maker of delicious Greek food, and teller of stories. She could grow anything with her magical green thumb. She once brought back to life a giant marijuana plant abandoned in the bedroom window of a deployed Merchant Marine son. Luckily, an eagle-eyed Annapolis police officer/relative spotted it, and gently explained that the plant was not an herb. And, oh, was she frugal. In their Murray Hill backyard, it wasn’t unusual to see paper towels and Ziploc bags drying on the clothesline. Maria was also good with a handsaw. When her sailor-son returned from duty, he brought with him a giant, hand-carved, well-endowed Pre-Columbian male fertility statue. By morning, the Peruvian statue was no longer fertile. The family was proudly among the founding members of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in Annapolis. To her grandchildren, Yiayia gave the best advice, particularly on how to make babies, (preferably all of the male gender.) Her special term for the process was “Traka Traka.” She indulged her grandkids' teasing, and never hid who her favorites were. That mattered little, as they all felt equally adored. Most of all, she was the beloved matriarch of her close family, a living example of faith and trust in God. She was an inspiring pioneer, and we will feel her presence forever. Her grandchildren have a message for her: “Rest in paradise, Yiayia, your hard work here is done!” Maria is survived by her daughter Melanie (Mike), sons Jack (Marianne), Nick (Maria), and Zack; grandchildren Demetri (Olivia), Maria (Jay), Niki (Larry), Kristin (Evan), Melissa (Ryan), John, Tina, Marcus (Brooke), Marina (Grant), and Elijah; and great-grandchildren Alyssa, Alex, Adeline, Calista, Leo, Ariadne, Victoria, Ryker, Michael, Alex, Joseph, Melia, Calix, Evangelia, and Mason. Friends are invited to celebrate Maria's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Tuesday, May 18 from 7 to 9 pm and at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2747 Riva Rd., Annapolis, MD on Wednesday, May 19 from 10:30 am until her funeral service begins at 11 am. Interment St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery in Annapolis, MD. Contributions may be made in Maria's memory to The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA.org/donate). Condolences may be made by using the tab on this page. The funeral service may be viewed online at: Maria Kyriacou Funeral Service