Mary Skafidas

Mary Skafidas was born in Manhattan, NY. At an early age, her family moved back to the village of Moudros, on the island of Lemnos, in North Aegean Greece. After WWII, the family was able to migrate back to New York City. Mary’s love of fashionled her to work as a supervisor for the Bocko Mayo, Inc. Dress Company, in the heyday of the NYC garment district.  In NYC, she also met the love of her life, John and they were married for almost 50 years and built a full life together, eventually settling in Bergenfield, NJ. To their many friends and family, their home was known as the " Taverna Skafidas", where all were welcomed to share a great meal and friendly visit.

Mary, along with her late husband, John, was one of the founding members of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, NJ. For nearly 20 years, Mary was an active member of the St. Philothea Philoptochos Society also having served as president.   As an expert baker and born leader, Mary led the monumental task of managing the baking of all the delicious Greek pastries for the Church's annual 4-day festival visited by thousands of patrons. This love and joy of baking and cooking was instilled in Mary's children and grandchildren (8grandsons and 1 granddaughter). Her storytelling and inspirational words of wisdom ("Yiayia-isms") taught them invaluable life lessons of strong faith, family, love, tradition, and strength of character.

We were all fortunate to have "yiayia" in our lives for so long. Until the end, she was true to her infamous quote, "I am a strong Greek!"

Mary is survived by her three children, daughter, Helen Loeser, her husband Michael and their sons, Andrew and Alexander, her daughter, Cleo Bartos, her husband William and their sons, William, John, Stephen and Christopher, and son, Michael Skafidas, his wife Katherine, and their children, Alexandria, John, and Matthew. She is predeceased by her husband John Skafidas, her sister Katherine Soullas, and survived by her brother Theofani Baktidy, and many nieces, nephews, cousins,and relatives.

All will gather at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral 353 E. Clinton Ave Tenafly, Tuesday June 14^th at 9:45 AM for the funeral service at 10 AM. Interment George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.

In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to:

St. Philothea Philoptochos Society

Chapter #1034

Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral

St. John the Theologian

Tenafly, New Jersey

https://www.stjohntenafly.org/philoptochos/about-philoptochos