Helen Massas

Helen Massas, 88, of Fort Mill SC passed away on February 8, 2012 at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill SC. She was born in New York City to the late George and Angelique Dorros. She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas Stephen Massas, her son Philip Arthur Massas, her brother Leon G. Dorros and her sister "Kiki" Tzavaras. Although born in New York City, she lived and was schooled in Paris as a child, before returning with her family to NYC in 1937 to complete her education. 1943 was a busy year for Helen. She married, graduated from Hunter College, and had her first child all before the age of 20. She and her husband lived in Fort Lee NJ until 1973 where she was active in the PTA, chaired numerous charitable fund raisers, was President of the Ladies Philoptochos Society at the Church of the Ascension in Fairview NJ, all while raising three active children. After moving to Tucson AZ with her husband in 1973, she volunteered her services to her church and the local hospital. Helen, a woman of grace and elegance, had a wonderful sense of style and color. She earned her ASID designation while in AZ. Upon moving to Roanoke VA in 2003, she continued her volunteer hospital work. In 2006 she moved to Fort Mill SC and became a member of the St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte NC. Helen also joined the New Southern Women Club where she was an enthusiastic participant in the Bridge, Stitchers, Out to Lunch and Socializers groups. She took an active interest in everyone and everything around her, always finding time to stop and talk to young mothers, complimenting them on the beauty of their children. Helen loved to garden, although confined in recent years to indoor plants and flowers. She loved animals, especially the birds and squirrels that frequented the backyard feeders. However, she and the house cat Gracie maintained a tenuous truce, occasionally broken by an accidental step on the tail, swiftly followed by a claw swipe. Helen is survived by her son Stephen Massas (Jayne) of Fort Mill SC, daughter Claire Pesin (the late Arthur Pesin, M.D.) of Scottsdale AZ, sister Dora Evans of Garden City NY, sister-in-law Marie Dorros of Tucson AZ; by grandchildren Melanie Volkers (Tim) and daughters Samantha and Allison, Philip J. Layfield (Christine) and daughter Campbell, Peter J. McDonough (Debra) and children Jadyn, Quenten and Malcolm, Nicholas S. Massas (Jim) and son Jackson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staffs of the Laurels Assisted Living Center of Pineville, CMC-Pineville, and Hospice & Community Care of Rock Hill for the loving and excellent care they provided. Viewing will be at the Palmetto Funeral Home, Fort Mill, on Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM with the Trisagion Service at 2:30 PM. Funeral service will be held at St. Nektarios Church on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 1:00PM. Interment will be at Brookside Cemetery in Englewood, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice & Community Care, 2275 India Hook Rd., Rock Hill SC 29732.

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