Maria Karapatakis Kritzas

AIKEN, SC – Mrs. Maria Karapatakis Kritzas, 62, beloved wife of George I. Kritzas, passed away June 2nd 2018 peacefully at her residence with her family, after a year-long struggle with Glioblastoma Multiforme. Born on August 6, 1955 in Plomarion, Greece. Maria was a daughter to the late John C. Karapatakis and surviving Mersina L. Karapatakis of Plomarion, Greece.  At the age of eleven, she and her family moved to Aiken, SC.  A graduate of Aiken High School c/o “74 and later USC-Aiken with a degree in Political Science.  In 1983, Maria and George opened Acropolis Pizza Restaurant.  A staple of Aiken cuisine, Maria loved nothing more than serving her customers, who became part of her extended family.  The matriarch of her household, Maria’s legacy will be survived by those she influenced and cared for as her own. In addition to her husband and mother, Maria is survived by her two sons: Yianne (Jessi) Kritzas, Bethesda, MD and Demitri (Jessica) Kritzas, Lexington, SC.  She has one granddaughter, Stella Marie Kritzas.  She is also survived by a sister, Dina (Phil) Ferguson, Aiken; a brother, Deno (Linda) Karapatakis, Aiken; two aunts, Demetra Verenes and Persa Karapatakis, Aiken; one nephew Peter Ferguson, Aiken; and one niece Sophie Karapatakis, Aiken. A Trisagion service will be held on Wednesday, June 6th at Shellhouse Funeral Home 924 Hayne Ave Aiken, SC at 5:00 PM with the family receiving friends until 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, June 7, 2018 at Shellhouse Funeral Home with Father Michael Platanis officiating. Interment will follow in historic Bethany Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Nikos Gallos, John Simpkins, Gregory Daglis, Thomas Rhoden, William Proctor, and Peter Ferguson.  Honorary Pallbearer will be Emmanuel Kountakis. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste 550 Chicago, IL 6063.  www.abta.org SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC (803)642-3456 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Maria Karapatakis Kritzas, please visit our flower store.