Lillian Trakas

Lillian "Lilly" Carras Trakas, 88, of Charlotte, NC and formerly of Spartanburg, SC, died peacefully Sunday, November 25, 2018. Born January 20, 1930 on the Island of Ikaria, Greece, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas Stephanos Carras and Irene Tsantes Carras and the widow of Gus Nicholas Trakas. At the tender age of eight years old, Lilly came to America with her parents and had a wonderful life growing up with family and friends in Wilmington, NC. In 1959, she married and moved to Spartanburg, SC where she became very active in the parish life of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Lilly enjoyed singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and serving with the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, the philanthropic arm of the church. After the passing of her husband, Gus, Lilly retired from her 19 years of work at the Charles Lea Center in Spartanburg and moved to Charlotte to be with her daughters and grandchildren. She joined St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church which quickly became her new "home away from home" where she was very active. Her life's treasures were her eight grandchildren. "Yiayia Falio" had the perfect blend of humor and wisdom to love on them and teach them EVERYTHING they needed to know. Others also benefitted from her outpouring of wisdom - you may have been one of them! Survivors include her children, Nicholas S. Trakas (Maureen) of Stroudsburg, PA, Stephanos G. Trakas (Lena) of Greenville, SC, Joanna Trakas Cavalaris (Jimmy) and Irene Trakas Liapis (Bill) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Nikki Trakas Ottomanelli (Chris), Zoe Cavalaris, Thomas Cavalaris, Maria Liapis, Grace Trakas, Dimitri Liapis, Victoria Trakas and Christina Liapis; and sister, Demetra Carras Shokkos (Charles). In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Stephanos Nicholas Carras. Visitation is from 6:00pm - 8:00pm Thursday, November 29, 2018 with the 7:00 PM Trisagion. The Funeral Service is Friday, November 30, 2018 at 11:30 AM. Services will be held at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270 and officiated by The Rev. Steve Dalber and The Rev. John Wallace. Interment will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:00 AM in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC and led by The Rev. George Nayfa and The Rev. Tom Pistolis. Pallbearers are Dimitri Liapis, Thomas Cavalaris, Chris Ottomanelli, Ian Alexander, Harry Cavalaris, Jason Kekas, Perry Siatis and John Tsantes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made payable to St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church benefitting the mission work at St. Peter's College in Ghana or Child of God Academy in Kenya and mail to 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte, NC 28270. Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may also be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com The J. F. Floyd Mortuary To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Lillian "Lilly" Carras Trakas please visit our Sympathy Store.