Catherine Kotsikos

Kotsikos, Catherine
Catherine passed away August 29, 2012 peacefully at her home in Irvine, California. She was born on March 3, 1913 to Nick and Amelia Camperos in Pasadena, California. Her parents , who were born in Patras and Kalavryta, Greece, raised Catherine, and her younger sisters, Dena and Sophie close to the “San Julian” Greek Orthodox Church in Los Angeles. The Camperos girls and their parents spent wonderful times with their Greek relatives in the Greek Community, and great summers at their cabin at Lake Arrowhead, California.
The Camperos family soon moved to their new house on 54th St. in Los Angeles. Catherine and her sisters attended Los Angeles Elementary and Junior High Schools, and graduated from Manual Arts High School.
In 1932, Catherine proudly led the Greek Athletes into the newly built Los Angeles Coliseum for the Olympic Games where she saluted the President of the United States.
In 1935, Catherine met and married the love of her life, Markos Kotsikos, who had been born in Serifos, Greece. Mark and Catherine had a very happy life, as they raised their two children, Mary and Nick. They still had great summers at Lake Arrowhead, and were very loyal Trojans. They were especially proud that both their children and two of their grandchildren graduated from the University of Southern California. They remained active in the Greek Orthodox Community, and were very supportive of the Greek Orthodox Church in Los Angeles, their beloved St. Sophia Cathedral.
Mark and Catherine moved to Irvine in 1980, and were founding members of St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, living close to their adored children, and precious grandchildren.
After Markos died in 1985, Catherine, with her family visited Athens, and Serifos, and reconnected with Markos’ wonderful brothers, nephews and nieces in Greece.
Catherine, then went back to work at Great Western Savings, which later became Washington Mutual. She worked for the Company for over 50 years, and retired again at the age of 97.
Catherine is survived by her son, Nick Kotsikos, her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Jim Manos, her grandchildren, Anthony and Sheryl Manos, Catherine and Kevin Parker, Andrea and John Taylor, and Kristin Farnam. She is also survived by her beloved great-grandchildren, Jimmy and Nicholas Parker, Nicholas Madura, Brooke Taylor and Colin Farnam.
The Trisagion will be held on Friday, September 7, at 7:00pm, and the funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 8, at 11:30am, at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church located at 4949 Alton Parkway, Irvine, California 92604. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made, in Catherine’s name, to St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church Icon Fund.