Obituary of Dimitrios Mihadas

Dimitrios Mihadas, age 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2015. He was born in Turgia-Krania, Grevena, Macedonia, Greece, on January 18, 1924, son of the late Athanasios and Katerina (Lamaris) Mihadas. Dimitri grew up in Thessaloniki, where he owned a company that manufactured sweaters. Following that he lived in Trikala, Thessalia, Greece where he married his wife, Eleni, and started a trucking company. He was a decorated war veteran in Greece's Civil War to protect the Greek democracy and prevent Communists from taking over. He worked for the military in the Supply Depot Regimen. Dimitri came to the United States in 1973 to be with his cousins in the United States: in Erie, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. He earned his welding certificate from O.I.C. and in Erie worked for Lincoln Foundry, Gloeker Refrigeration Co., and National Forge Steel as a welder. Dimitri worked with his son at Sunny's Family Restaurant, and enjoyed helping his son at Meineke Car Care Center, now known as Atlas Care Car Center. He was a long-time member of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, AHEPA, Vlahic Society of Krania and was a Trikala News contributor. Dimitri was a generous man, and gave contributions to IOCC, AHEPA, World Vision, Wounded Warrior Project, Red Cross and Alzheimer's Foundation. He loved life, and his family, and enjoyed singing, dancing, fishing, hunting, biking, traveling, and camping. He spoke five languages. A dream he never fulfilled was to become an actor. His favorite soccer team was Paok of Thessaloniki and football team was the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a loving grandfather and showered them with love. We will miss his infectious smile, blue eyes, singing, jokes, story-telling and laughter. Survivors include, his wife Eleni; his children, Katerina Christanas (Mihadas), Athanasios Mihadas, and Achilles Christanas; his grandchildren, Stefanos and Eleni; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Efthimios, Theodoros and Christos, his first cousins, Rev. Steve Mihadas, and Virgil, Evangelia, Ioana and Elizabeth Mihadas, Mary Mihadas (DeMintich), Lucia Mihadas and Angela Mihadas. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd., on Friday, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm, and are invited to attend a Funeral Service on Saturday at 11 am at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. Interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery. A Trisagion Service will be held at the funeral home Friday at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be designated, in Dimitri's name, to his son, Athanasios Mihadas for the Vlahic Society of Krania to benefit Village Elders. To send condolences, please visit www.dusckasfuneralhome.com.