POTOMAC, MD – Demetra “Deme” Anas, 59, passed away on August 27 at her home in Potomac, MD with her husband of 32 years, Peter Anas, and her children, Georgia Giamalis (Matthew) and Sam Anas, by her side.

She was born October 28, 1960 in Washington, DC and was raised in Bethesda. She was the daughter of Dr. George T. and Stavroula “Lou” P. Economos. Deme graduated from the Holton-Arms School and lived her life in the spirit of the school’s motto, “Find a Way or Make One.” She attended Wellesley College and later received her law degree from American University. She went on to be a federal prosecutor for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for 35 years as Senior Legal Advisor. Deme met Peter (London, Ontario, Canada) at Ionian Village Camp in Greece in 1976 and eventually married in 1987. Deme brightened our lives and gave her all to everything she did. She built a circle of close friends and was involved with her kids’ schools and many athletic teams throughout the years. Her combination of class, generosity and caring personality has been her hallmark. She always had a way of drawing people to her.

Above all else, Deme will be remembered for her incredible energy. She was the “room mom” for her children’s classes at Holton and Landon, coordinating many events. Deme's passion for cooking jumped to another level after serving as Editor and coordinator of the Junior League of Washington Capital Classics Cookbook, 1989. She passed on this knowledge to her daughter, Georgia, as they both taught classes at L'Academie de Cuisine. Deme and Georgia prepared all of the food for the annual Anas Family Christmas Party, always a memorable night cherished by many friends and family members every year.

Deme and Peter enjoyed the long road trips to watch son Sam's college and pro hockey games from coast to coast, meeting many nice players, parents, coaches, and media in the tight knit hockey community.

Deme’s energy and determination allowed her to survive breast cancer three times, highlighted by her dropping the puck at the “Pink in the Rink” breast cancer awareness night at her son Sam’s Iowa Wild AHL hockey game in Des Moines, Iowa in 2019. Her smile sparkled at center ice that night, as she stood tall as an inspiration to all 12,000 attendees, representing every woman’s fight against breast cancer.

Through her 23-year fight with cancer, her family provided her with resounding love and support. In addition to her husband and children, she leaves behind her mother Lou, brother Gregory Economos (Brad), sister Themis Johnson, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations for a new Communion Chalice can be made in her name to St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church 7701 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817, or go online to https://stgeorge.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/422/responses/new On the donation page, select "Donation towards: Other" then type in Chalice.

A viewing was held September 1 at Gawler’s Funeral Home, Washington, DC and the St. George funeral service was streamed online on September 2 at https://youtu.be/-TI4CytPbK4. Internment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Deme will be etched in the hearts of many forever.