Anthoula M Copsis

Anthoula Markos Copsis, 89, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
The youngest of three children, Anthoula was born on October 22, 1935 to Paraskevi and Spiros Markos in Vamvakou, Lakonia, Greece. In her early years, Anthoula enjoyed
the idyllic life of growing up in a small village until that was disrupted by the onset of WWII and the subsequent Greek Civil War. As with many of her generation, these
circumstances would shape how she lived the rest of her life. Determined to build a better life for herself, Anthoula dreamed of immigrating to America, the country that
sent aid packages of powdered milk and dried beans to help her family survive during both wars.

In 1960, at the age of 25, with only oranges in her coat pockets and a few personal belongings, she boarded an airplane to Akron, Ohio in order to make her dream a reality. Her Uncle George and Aunt Fontini Karigiannes had sponsored her and she was forever grateful. She had fond memories of her short time in Akron, where she was lovingly received by her older brother Leo and the Greek community.

In August 1961, Anthoula and her brother travelled to Gastonia, NC to join many other Greek immigrants from their mother's village at Karyae Park. During this Panagiri celebration, she met Nick Copsis, who she would marry a few months later in Charlotte, NC, on January 21, 1962.

All those who knew Anthoula, knew her for her kindness and generosity—but it was her independent spirit and determination that helped motivate her to assimilate into her new country. She attended day classes to learn English while her children were in school and obtained her driver’s license at a time when many of her fellow immigrant women were not driving.

Applying the hard work and resilience she learned by working in her family's general store, fields, and walnut groves in Greece, she and her husband Nick worked tirelessly at their family’s South 21 Restaurants, in order to provide a better life for their two children. Blessed with the remarkable ability to effortlessly feed all those who visited her home, she demonstrated her generous hospitality through her love of cooking and her delicious Greek pastries.

Although Anthoula spent many hours working at the restaurant, maintaining a perfectly clean home and working in her yard, her primary focus was her family. She loved her family fiercely, especially her five grandchildren, who were her greatest source of pride and joy. To her, they would be her greatest legacy. Anthoula is preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Nick, her grandson Nicholas P. Copsis, her parents Paraskevi and Spiros Markos, and her siblings Leo Markos and Helen Antone. She is survived by her two children, Dr. Peter Copsis (Pam) and Maria Copsis Tassopoulos (Tim), her brother-in-law John Antone and sister-in-law Haido Copsis, her grandchildren Luke Tassopoulos, Nicholas Tassopoulos, Anthea Copsis and Vasili Copsis, her many nieces and nephews and the Godchildren she adored, Johnny G Couchell, Kiki Karres, John L. Maheras, Theofani Nixon, and Patty Robinson.
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The family would like to express their gratitude to Anthoula's dear companion, Kara O’Brien, who quickly became one of her favorite people and whose visits she greatly anticipated. The family would like to thank her doctors, Dr. Caroline Wilds, Dr. Alicia Coles and Dr. Don Russ, who attended to her for 30 years. The family also greatly appreciated the guidance and tender care demonstrated to her during her last days of life by Kari Craddock, Kimberly Jones and Via Hospice Health Partners, especially Dr.J.P. McBride, Colleen, Danielle, Keri and Theresa.

 The Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church: 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte, NC, 28270. Visitation will be from 10:00 -11AM at the church. Internment at Evergreen Cemetery will follow.

Pallbearers for the service will be Vasili Copsis, Luke Tassopoulos, Nicholas Tassopoulos, Mike Antone, Chris G. Copsis, Chris S. Copsis, Pete Markos and Chris Pappas

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:Mephibosheth Farm Angelic Riders 820 Forest Hills School Rd. Marshville, NC 28103, St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church Benevolence Fund 5108 Kuykendall Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270 or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Altar Fund. 600 East Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28203

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