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Katina Columbus
11/18/2025

Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Katina Columbus, aged 89, died on November 18, 2025, in her home in Allentown. 

Born in 1936 in the small mountain village of Ardaktos, on the island of Crete, Greece, she was the daughter of Evangelos and Panayiota Pelekanakis. Her passion for children and quality early childhood education led her to become the Director of the Metera Orphanage in Athens and in Crete, where she oversaw the care of newborns and young children and their subsequent adoptions. At the age 29, she came to America and made her home in Cleveland, Ohio where she married her beloved husband, Anthony Michael Columbus at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in 1966.

After the death of her husband in 1978, she moved with their four children to Allentown, PA to be closer to her two cherished brothers, Michael and Manny, and their beautiful families. She became an active member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, where she taught Greek School, Sunday School, and was president of the Daughters of Penelope and president of the Philoptochos for many years. 

Her life was devoted to her Orthodox faith, and she was happiest when her large extended family was gathered around her ever-welcoming, filled to overflowing dining room table. Her avgolemono, magiritsa, spanakopites, souzoukakia, dolmades, moussaka, kalamari, and baklava are legendary. 

She is survived by her four children: Irene Blough (Bill) of Allentown, PA, Michael Columbus (MaryAnn) of Allentown, PA, Pamela Columbus of Burnsville, North Carolina, and Theresa Columbus of Baltimore, MD, her three grandchildren, Mia and Mae Columbus and Gaia Eggert, grandson Jonathan Blough (Jenna),  great-grandson, Mason Blough, her brother Michael Pelekanos (Cindy), her brother Emilio Pelekanakis (Maria), her sister-in-law Gail Pelekanakis, her sister-in-law Krina Pelekanakis, and many other close relatives. She is predeceased by her brother Emmanuel Pelekanakis, sister Thiresia Kasaianou (Giorgo), sister Angeliki Pelekanakis, and brother Giorgo Pelekanakis. 

Services will be held on Monday, November 24th at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1607 W. Union Blvd., Bethlehem, Pa. The viewing will be at 9:00 AM with the funeral service following at 10:00. Interment following at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Allentown. Arrangements by Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home, Allentown.