Theodoros Thaniotis

It is with great sadness and sorrow that the family of the beloved Theodoros (Terry/Thodoris) Thaniotis announces his passing after a long and hard yet courageous battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at the age of 74.

Terry will always be lovingly remembered and missed by his adoring wife of 49 years, Sofia, his beloved children, Georgios with his wife Zoe and her loving family, Evangelos Thaniotis, his loving brother Peter who was the best brother one could ever have along with his equally loving wife Fran and their loving daughter (his special loving niece) Eleni, and all their loving extended family, his wonderful and recently deceased mother-in-law Maria and recently deceased loving nephew Angelo "o boys", his loving brothers/sisters-in-law Heather (the late Charles), Louis (Louise), Bessie (the late Gus), and Stella (George), his many wonderful cousins and their families, his many loving nephews, nieces and their families, and his countless lifetime friends, companions, co-workers, and familiars. He will be especially fondly remembered and missed by his precious and loving granddaughter Sofia and her mother Despina. Terry was predeceased by his brother Efstratios, his mother Eleni and his father Giorgis.

Please indicate the donation is in memory of Theodoros "Terry" Thaniotis.

Terry lived a full life and had many hobbies and interests which gave meaning, color and sound to him and everyone he shared treasured moments with.
His home was such a beautiful place within the centre of his home village Magoula and next to the public school and church. It was full of orange trees and other fruit trees where much of his life was dedicated to. Family, friends, relatives, and neighbors were one of the biggest parts that made his life whole and complete. Especially memorable were the overnight times of watering the trees from an electric well that was in the home's garden. Such nostalgia...

He loved sports and was an avid A.O Panathinaikos and A.O Sparti fan. He had a passion for track & field and was an amateur athlete in his youth. He listened to music and would sing with great passion. His favorite singer was Grigoris Bithikotsis and favorite musician Mikis Theodorakis. He loved to read poetry and book verses aloud, often as a way of expressing his thoughts in what was valuable in life. He was a great story teller, and while he had hundreds of stories to tell, it would never be boring when someone would listen to those stories again and again. His stories from the army were his favorite to tell, and his face would always have a nostalgic look when he did. His favorite color was green. He was always dressed stylish and was always well groomed. He was a beautiful man both in the inside and outside, and that is why he was a perfect loving couple with his wife Sofia. His best attribute was his beautiful smile which is seen in all of his photographs. In most of his photographs he is not alone, he always had family and friends with, and that was his life, his family and his friends, and to sacrifice for them. It made him really happy. He also had a very nice hairstyle in his younger years often accompanied by sunglasses for which some called him "Fyssoun" (a famous old Greek cinema actor). He really looked like a movie star. And he loved all of the old Greek cinema, tv, music, and arts in general. He loved and enjoyed to eat good Greek food, go to cafes, and drink Greek spirits, wine and beer. He would play classic Greek card games with his friends and familiars at his village various cafes very often and also watch his favorite sports on the tv and share stories and daily news with many. He liked to go to restaurants with his family and friends on a regular basis and also have home visits. His home was a frequent establishment of food, drink and entertainment offered freely to all that would come by uninvited. He would never say no to a good time. His favorite restaurants were the Kentro "Moustakas" restaurant in his Greek home village Magoula's centre square and Greek Islands Restaurant in Chicago where his brother Peter worked. He liked to climb trees when he was a kid, and loved to swim and go hunting. He had many great fun times and moments that nothing could ever replace. We will always miss him and will think of him forever and ever.

This following song is dedicated to my father's memory and was promised to be played, and sang when courage would allow, at his eternal resting place. It speaks of what he meant to me... https://youtu.be/MwS1zlcA9Pc

"Ο ήλιος ήσουν κι η αυγή
της νύχτας μου φεγγάρι
της μάνας μου ήσουν η ευχή
της Παναγιάς η χάρη
Έφυγες και κλαίει ο άνεμος το κύμα
κλαίνε τ’ άστρα κι η νυχτιά
κλαίει η μάνα μου στο μνήμα
κλαίει, κλαίει κι η Παναγιά
Στον πυρετό ήσουνα δροσιά
κερί μες στο σκοτάδι
άστρο στην κοσμοχαλασιά
βασιλικός στον Άδη
Έφυγες και κλαίει ο άνεμος το κύμα
κλαίνε τ’ άστρα κι η νυχτιά
κλαίει η μάνα μου στο μνήμα
κλαίει, κλαίει κι η Παναγιά"