Obituary for Georgia "Gia" Bobarakis
LATHAM Georgia “Gia” Bobarakis passed into eternal life on June 26, 2022 with her loving children by her side in her final hours. Gia was born on July 23, 1937 to the late Katherine and John Alexopoulos who immigrated to the United States from Greece and settled in Cohoes, NY. Her late husband, Stephen H. Bobarakis (“Steve Bob”), with whom she settled in Latham, NY, predeceased Georgia in 1980. Gia and her husband, Steve, owned and operated the Puritan Tea Room in Troy, NY, which was a downtown Troy landmark for decades.
Gia’s trademark was to concentrate on “School, Work and Church.” She was convinced that hobbies and traveling were a distraction to those primary pursuits. After graduating from Cohoes High School, Georgia attended Albany Business College while working full time at Stewart’s Ice Cream. She then started working at the Puritan Team Room where she met her husband, Steve, when he returned home to his family’s business after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. While working full time, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Russell Sage College. Gia also continued her educational pursuits at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), taking courses in Environmental Studies. While she enjoyed teaching elementary school, she decided to return to work with her husband, Steve, her brother, Chris, and sister, Mary, at the Puritan. She greatly enjoyed spending time with many family members and friends who worked at the Puritan.
After the Puritan closed, Gia missed working with her old customers. In her later years, she worked at both Price Chopper and Walmart delis, continuing to work until a year before her passing. She loved serving and talking with her old customers, friends, and family who sought her out for her friendly and careful service.
Her lifelong dedication to her church was also a critical component of Gia’s life. Her father, John Alexopoulos, along with her husband’s father, Haralambos “Harry” Bobarakis, were two of the founders of St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, NY. Gia and her husband, Steve, were very active in the church, including serving as members and officers of the Parish Council and leading the St. Basil Youth programs. Indeed, Gia was the first woman to serve as President of the Parish Council. Gia also was a Sunday school teacher, and led many church fundraising pursuits, including Dinner Galas, Bingo and early Greek Festivals.
Gia is survived by her son, Steve, who resides in Bolton Landing, NY with his fiancé, Gina Bianchi, and her daughter, Katherine, who resides in Latham, NY. Georgia is also survived by seven grandchildren: Nicole (Jason) Broughton, Jake and Ben Parker, and Stephen (Alexis), Olivia, Alexandra and Demetra Bobarakis, and three great-grandchildren: Mila, Eden and Blake Broughton. YiaYia Gia loved hearing about her grandchildren’s lives, having them visit her, and eating together at home or at a local diner. Gia is also survived by Dorothy (Robert) Miazga and Louis (Evette) Alexopoulos, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Mary, Nicholas, Chris and William Alexopoulos.
There are no calling hours, as Gia wanted her friends to remember her as she was in life. An Orthodox Funeral Service will be on Friday, July 1, 2022, at 10 a.m. at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River Street, Troy, NY. Interment to follow at Elmwood Hill Cemetery, Troy, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Georgia’s memory to St. Basil Church Memorial Fund.
Gia’s trademark was to concentrate on “School, Work and Church.” She was convinced that hobbies and traveling were a distraction to those primary pursuits. After graduating from Cohoes High School, Georgia attended Albany Business College while working full time at Stewart’s Ice Cream. She then started working at the Puritan Team Room where she met her husband, Steve, when he returned home to his family’s business after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. While working full time, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Russell Sage College. Gia also continued her educational pursuits at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), taking courses in Environmental Studies. While she enjoyed teaching elementary school, she decided to return to work with her husband, Steve, her brother, Chris, and sister, Mary, at the Puritan. She greatly enjoyed spending time with many family members and friends who worked at the Puritan.
After the Puritan closed, Gia missed working with her old customers. In her later years, she worked at both Price Chopper and Walmart delis, continuing to work until a year before her passing. She loved serving and talking with her old customers, friends, and family who sought her out for her friendly and careful service.
Her lifelong dedication to her church was also a critical component of Gia’s life. Her father, John Alexopoulos, along with her husband’s father, Haralambos “Harry” Bobarakis, were two of the founders of St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, NY. Gia and her husband, Steve, were very active in the church, including serving as members and officers of the Parish Council and leading the St. Basil Youth programs. Indeed, Gia was the first woman to serve as President of the Parish Council. Gia also was a Sunday school teacher, and led many church fundraising pursuits, including Dinner Galas, Bingo and early Greek Festivals.
Gia is survived by her son, Steve, who resides in Bolton Landing, NY with his fiancé, Gina Bianchi, and her daughter, Katherine, who resides in Latham, NY. Georgia is also survived by seven grandchildren: Nicole (Jason) Broughton, Jake and Ben Parker, and Stephen (Alexis), Olivia, Alexandra and Demetra Bobarakis, and three great-grandchildren: Mila, Eden and Blake Broughton. YiaYia Gia loved hearing about her grandchildren’s lives, having them visit her, and eating together at home or at a local diner. Gia is also survived by Dorothy (Robert) Miazga and Louis (Evette) Alexopoulos, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Mary, Nicholas, Chris and William Alexopoulos.
There are no calling hours, as Gia wanted her friends to remember her as she was in life. An Orthodox Funeral Service will be on Friday, July 1, 2022, at 10 a.m. at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River Street, Troy, NY. Interment to follow at Elmwood Hill Cemetery, Troy, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Georgia’s memory to St. Basil Church Memorial Fund.