Evangelia Michailidis, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, has fallen asleep in the Lord. Evangelia is one of those remarkable women who inspire by the way they live and look at life, demonstrating that heroism often flows not only from great and public acts but from the private, quiet love, patience, and kindness bestowed upon children, spouses, siblings, and friends in the face of hardship and tragedy by those who often sacrifice their own happiness to provide loved ones with a safe home and a positive spirit in their lives.

Evangelia was born in Greece on September 1, 1929 to refugees from Asia Minor. Her parents were from Prousa, not far from Constantinople, where the Ballis family lived productive, prosperous, and comfortable lives until the Turkish state made them strangers by in their own land, their homeland where Hellenes flourished for 3000 years. Together with her husband Stavros Michailidis, who predeceased her, their families witnessed and suffered being genocided by Turks in Asia Minor in the early years of the 20^th century and then in Greece by occupying Bulgarian forces during WW II, only to be then caught up in the violence of the Greek civil war and finally the divisions and wounds of the time of the Greek junta.

She and her children followed Stavros and to America seeking peace and a better life, which they found in Jackson Heights, NY thanks to Evangelia’s loving and calming presence at home and the work ethic and enterprising sprit of Stavros.

The first member the family to fall asleep in the Lord was first-born Miltiades, followed by her husband Stavros, the family’s patriarch. Evangelia is survived by her son Demosthenes and daughters Hariclia, Efffie, and Maria, grandchildren Stavros, Constantine, Michael, and Evan, and great grandchildren Helios and Melina. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Constantinos Ballis.

The love that shone like a candle with a soft though bright light in the world continues in the hearts and minds of family and friends in Greece and the United States.