HASAPOPOULOS, Betty Louise (de St. PAER)
DE ST PAER, HASAPOPOULOS, SHAFFER, MONTEALVO, SUTER, JAUREGUY
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/7/2013 at 15:57:15
Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
December 04, 2009Obituary - Betty Louise (de St. Paer) Hasapopoulos
June 29, 1927 ~ December 02, 2009Mason City - Betty Louise de St Paer Hasapopoulos, age 82, of Mason City, Iowa died on Tuesday, (December 2, 2009) at Muse Norris Hospice, Mason City.
Funeral services will be held 10 A.M. Saturday (December 5, 2009) at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 1311 2nd St SW, Mason City, with Rev. Joseph Mirowski and Rev. Basil Hickman, officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 P.M. Friday at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 1311 2nd St SW, Mason City, where a Trisagion prayer service will be held at 6 PM, Friday.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the Betty Hasapopoulos Memorial Fund, (2831 4th St. N.W., Mason City, IA. 50401) to benefit the following not-for-profit organizations: Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Orthodox Christian Mission Center, Faith Works, and Amnesty International.
Born June 29, 1927 in Cherokee, Iowa to Arthur Hugh Spur and Hazel (Shaffer) de St Paer. She married Pete Hasapopoulos on December 14, 1947 in Mason City, Iowa where she continued to reside.
Growing up on a farm surrounded by nature, music, literature and community service, Mrs. Hasapopoulos’ life followed a path in those areas. She served as President of the League of Women Voters, Mason City Friends of the Library, Church Women United and Philoptochos. Additionally, she was involved in Community Kitchen, Migrant Action Program, was a nursing home program advocate, a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Active in the Greek Orthodox Church, she was organist for over fifty years and co-founder of the Sunday school program as well as having spent endless hours working on church functions and fund raisers.
Music being her passion, her career took off when, at the age of four, she performed for the community of Larrabee, Iowa an unforgettable rendition of “I Love You Truly.” Years later she pursued her musical training by attending Morningside College in Sioux City studying piano continuing as a teacher and accompanist until recently. Not only did she write music for friends and family but her composition won first place at the local St. Cecilia competition. She also co-wrote a musical that was performed on tour for ACT of New Mexico.
As a granddaughter of a prominent 18th century French newspaper editor who penned inflammatory political views, Mrs. Hasapopoulos was proud of her lineage that subsequently fled to the Isle of Jersey in Great Britain. As a first generation American, she cherished her many adventurous visits to cousins at the Old Rectory in England roaming country roads and discussing history over a cup of tea and biscuits. She also traveled to visit her late husband’s extended family in Greece with her children several times.
She will be remembered by many, but especially her children, as the curator of basement theatres, Halloween haunted houses, spirited family gatherings, and a wonderfully artistic environment. But mostly she will live in our hearts for her compassion, kindness, selflessness and unending love.
She is survived by her four children: Cristine Montealvo, Clear Lake, Constance (Kevin) Hasapopoulos Suter, San Francisco, CA, Irene (Michael) Jaureguy, Turlock, CA., and Peter Hasapopoulos, Escondido, CA; grandchildren, Father Basil, Shannon Peter, Kirsten, Lilia, Louisa, Delphine, Joseph, James, Peter, Yanni, Catherine, Elizabeth, Giancarlo; great-grandchildren, Christina, Aleka, Aaron, Evelyn, Alex, Anna, Angelina, and Naiara.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Pete Hasapopoulos, a brother, Arthur and granddaughter, Sophia Suter.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2013
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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