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Simeon Stavrinos
05/31/2023

Simeon Stavrinos, 79, of Macungie, PA, passed away on May 31 with his beloved wife Ourania and his precious family by his side.  Early that morning, the sun rose on Simeon’s cherished garden as he was ushered into heaven.

Born in 1944 to Zaharo Aporelli and Demetrios Staurinos, Simeon grew up in the mountain village of Filia, in Mytilene, Greece. He left home at the young age of 12 to move to Athens with his brother, where he learned to be a machinist, guided by his strong will and work ethic. There he developed a love of classical Greece, which inspired and emboldened him throughout his life. After serving in the Greek military, he entered the merchant Marines and traveled the world, seeing its beauty and magnitude from the deck of a ship.  His work on the ship was not easy, having survived a boat fire, but the struggles only made him stronger and more driven.

After giving up his life at sea, he married Ourania Dimitriadis on September 22, 1974 and emigrated to the United States. For 49 years, they shared a life of joy, hard work, and determination to constantly improve their station in life. Simeon was a fiercely loyal husband and deeply committed to creating a beautiful life for his family.  Always industrious and curious, Simeon’s uncompromising manner guided him through a variety of fields. At Mack Trucks, he showed great talent and was quickly promoted from the assembly line to the machine shop and built truck engines, a job he truly loved.  Simeon was a careful and prudent saver, and after leaving Mack, he owned and successfully operated the Temple Family Restaurant for over 20 years. 

Simeon and Ourania were blessed with three children and four grandchildren, and he was always teaching lessons and encouraging them to be their best and make meaningful contributions to society and the world at large.  He had a tough exterior; however, he put these lessons of selflessness into practice for his family. Everything he did throughout his life was for them. As a fierce patriot of Greece, he always drew from the Ancients to answer life's questions and provide guidance to those he loved.  He was an inspiration as a husband, father, and Papou, and through his example, Simeon’s children learned to be independent, hard-working, faithful, and completely dedicated to family and church.  He encouraged his children and respected their decisions, standing by ready to help if needed. His grandchildren were a great source of pride for Simeon, and he delighted in teaching them Greek and sharing life lessons.

Gardening was a passion for Simeon and he tended his flowers and vegetables the way he steered his long life: with purpose, integrity, and curiosity. A garden is a grand teacher, just as Simeon was. They both teach patience and careful watchfulness, industry, and thrift, and above all, trust. 

Simeon is survived by his faithful wife Ourania, loving children Zaharo Hatzinikolaou (Vasili), Demetrios (Christina) and Maria Georgia, and treasured grandchildren Antonios, Ourania, Eleftheria, and his namesake Simeon. He is also survived by siblings in Greece: Georgios, Mihali, Irini, Aleko and Argiri and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services:

For our family overseas: please view at www.stnicholas.org/staurinos

Viewing on Sunday, June 4 from 6-8 p.m. and Monday, June 5 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1607 West Union Boulevard, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Funeral service will be held on Monday, June 5 at 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral 1607 West Union Boulevard, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Interment following at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Allentown.

For donations in his memory to be sent to Greece for village improvements in Filia, please send contributions to the Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home, 1227 Hamilton St., Allentown, Pa. 18102 or follow the link below:

https://paypal.me/simeonstaurinos?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US