Bessie N. "Kikki" Pappas 1926-2011

PAPPAS, KYRIAZES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 6/20/2011 at 22:26:23

Sioux City Journal
27 May 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Bessie N. "Kikki" Pappas, 84, of Sioux City passed away Monday, May 23, 2011, at Hallmark Care Center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, with the Rev. George P. Pappas officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present at 6 p.m. and a Trisagion service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be posted online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bessie was born Aug. 3, 1926, in Madison, Wis., the daughter of Nick and Kalliope (Kyriazes) Pappas. She moved to Sioux City as a young child where she grew up in the South Bottoms area. Bessie was very proud of her upbringing and Greek heritage. Her father owned the Dixie Restaurant and Bessie would often work and help at the restaurant.

She graduated from Central High School and Morningside College. Bessie received her master's degree from the University of South Dakota. She began her teaching career in physical education in Minneapolis, followed by Chicago, Clarinda, Iowa, and North Junior High School in Sioux City. She was then a high school guidance counselor at Council Bluffs (Iowa) Abraham Lincoln High School.

In her youth and young adulthood she was an avid ping-pong player, golfer and tennis player. She taught her nieces and nephews how to play ping-pong and at one time she won the Iowa State Championship. Bessie's greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews with whom she was greatly involved in their lives.

Bessie had a dry sense of humor and will be remembered for her caring spirit and generosity. She was a breast cancer survivor.

She enjoyed shopping and finding a good bargain. She was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Survivors include two sisters and their husbands, Mary and Peter Vlahoulis of Sioux City and Georgia and Doug DeWitt of Denver, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Kathy Pappas of Sioux City; six nephews, their wives and children, Spero Vlahoulis (Emma and Kellen), Tom and Shannen Vlahoulis (Sophie and Kaitlyn), Nick and Nancy Pappas (Alexandra and Olivia), Mike DeWitt (Nicole), Dan and Dee DeWitt (Zachary and Alene) and Tom and Melinda DeWitt (Bridgett and Doug); and three nieces, their husbands and children, Nickie and Pat Lempka (Kalli and Ryan), Mary Kay Oostendorp (Mari, Jay and Jake) and Jane and Tony Viselli (Maria and Anthony).

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Ted Pappas.

Pallbearers will be Spero Vlahoulis, Tom Vlahoulis, Kalli Lempka, Ryan Lempka, Patrick Lempka and Nick Pappas. Honorary pallbearers will be her great-nieces and great-nephews.

Memorials may be made in her name to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or Hospice of Siouxland.

Bessie's family extends a special thank you to Peggy, Dave and the Hospice staff and volunteers, and to the Hallmark Care Center staff.