Edith Giannios

Edith Giannios, 98, passed away September 14, 2020. Edith was born on February 10, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was the daughter of George and Anastasia (Baroutas) Jianas. She attended Longfellow Elementary School and Westport High School.

As a young woman, Edith worked in the family businesses, the Green Mill Restaurant and Candy Stores. She loved beautiful clothes, hats and red lipstick. Leopard print was her favorite. “Kiki” loved traveling to Greek conventions and dances.

In 1952, Edith married the love of her life, Elias K. Giannios, a recent Greek immigrant. Together, they raised three daughters. Her home was open to all she loved, welcoming family from Greece who lived with them. She helped many when they arrived in this country. Edith was a devoted daughter, wife and mother always. Even her daughter’s friends considered her a second mother and her grandchildren’s friends knew her as yiayia. At 98 years great, she was a wonderful mother, yiayia, and yitsa. A loving, funny compassionate, dynamic woman totally devoted to her family, she and Elias enjoyed 61 years together. Her secret to longevity was “eating Greek food”! Her favorite song was “The 5 o’clock whistle” which every one of her grandchildren can sing.

Edith was a life long member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, serving on the Board of the Ladies Philoptochos Society, helping at the Greek Festivals and many church events. She volunteered at school activities raising her children and grandchildren. She was devoted to her girls and grandchildren and they were to her too.

Edith was preceded in death by her husband, Elias K. Giannios, her parents, sister Katherine Ellis, brothers Peter Jianas, Alex Jianas, Gus Jianas and Bill Lanos. She is survived by her daughters Stacie (Ed) Sampson, Tricia (Tim) Eikel and Tina (Bart) Alyea; her grandchildren Louis Sampson, Ashlee (Matt) Duffield, Clyde (Shawna) Aufner, Cara (Kristian) Beck, Amanda (Jeremy) Thomas and Alicia Gardner; great grandchildren Madelyn Duffield, Carter Cearley, AJ Beck, Audriana Beck, Brooks Aufner, Izak Thomas, Lilly Thomas, Kinleigh Gardner and Rhys Gardner. She is also survived by her dear sister in laws Ethel Jianas and Erasmia Giannios. She greatly loved her many nieces and nephews, cousins and relatives, especially Angie (George) Ramel. Great thanks to her caregivers at Foxwood Springs, especially “Niki”, Tizzy, Jessica 1, “Koukla” and Dana. (Edith gave them all names).

Services and burial will be private. However, it will be live streamed at 10AM, Tuesday, September 22 on the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church website (www.annunciationkc.org) for those wishing to pray with us. May her memory be everlasting!  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Icon Fund, 12001 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145.

Services and burial will be private. However, it will be live streamed at 10AM, Tuesday, September 22 on the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church website (www.annunciationkc.org) for those wishing to pray with us. May her memory be everlasting!  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Icon Fund, 12001 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145.