SALK LAKE CITY, UT – Beloved and adored mother, Presvytera Golfo (Drouviotou) Nikas, passed peacefully from this temporal life into eternal Paradise after a brief illness and several years afflicted by Alzheimer’s.

Golfo was born in Athens, Greece to Vasilios Drouviotis and Dionysia Assimakopoulou, the youngest of nice children. She pursued her Secondary Education at the University of Toledo, receiving a Bachelor of Education. She then completed her Master of Education and returned to Greece with the hopes of starting her own private school, specializing in teaching English.

However, God had other plans for her, and she fell in love with (Rev.) Prokopios Nikas of Fili, Attica, Greece. After marrying in the early 60’s, they moved back to the United States and settled in the Hartford, CT, area whereupon Prokopios became an ordained Greek Orthodox priest and Golfo became a Presvytera (wife of a priest).

Throughout Fr. Prokopios’ 50+ years of faithful service in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (mostly in the Northeast), Presvytera Golfo stood by his side and assisted him in all aspects of ministry, including Greek School, Choir, and Philoptochos. When possible, she would also teach New Testament Greek at the local college. During their time in Weirton, WV, she was offered tenure at nearby Steubenville University in Ohio as Professor of New Testament Greek. However, as her husband was frequently reassigned to various parishes, it was not possible to accept this position, being the faithful wife that she was.

Perhaps their greatest joy was the adoption of their only child, George, from Athens, Greece in August 1969. Presvytera Golfo was very protective and nurturing, even after George reached adulthood, becoming a priest himself. She will be forever remembered as a most loving and genuine mother, always putting the welfare and wellbeing of her son before anything else. Although her son became a celibate priest and thus did not offer her any grandchildren, she was comforted knowing that he offered her his utmost and caring attention until her last day.

When she was not busy with Church duties or raising her only son, Golfo enjoyed reading the bible, the lives of the Saints, the Greek newspapers, and watching movies on TV. Though she would rarely buy anything, she enjoyed spending hours at the local mall ‘shopping’ as well as talking with various parishioners and lending her years of expertise as a Presvytera to would-be future wives of clergy. She especially enjoyed family vacations in Clearwater, FL, North Wildwood, NJ, or her home country of Greece.

Presvytera Golfo Nikas was preceded in death by her beloved husband of over 50 years, the Rev. Protopresbyter Prokopios Nikas, who passed away on June 10, 2012, as well as her parents and eight siblings. She is survived by her loving son, the V. Rev. Archimandrite George Nikas, Dean of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral/Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City.

Her Funeral Service took place at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake, in care of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral (279 South 300 West, SLC, UT 84101). The Interment took place at Lawnview Cemetery, 500 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA, 19046.