Helen Makaris
Helen Despina “Deddie” Kocos Makaris passed away on January
16, 2020 at St. Agnes Hospital. Despina was born to Stephen and Katherine Kocos
on May 29, 1923 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. When her sister Mary was born, 14
months later and started to talk, Mary couldn’t pronounce Despina, the Greek
name for Helen, so for the remainder of her life, Despina was known as
“Deddie”.
On November 15, 1942 she married Alexander Makaris at Holy
Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Shortly after their wedding, Alex, was deployed
to the European Theater in World War II, and Deddie did not see or hear from
him for the next three years. After his
return, they made their home in Elmwood Park, IL where Alex worked for the Soo
Line Railroad, and Deddie was a homemaker and took care of Alex’s mother. After retirement, the couple moved back to
Fond du Lac for the rest of what would be their 71 years together. Deddie and Alex were fiercely proud of their
Greek heritage and remained life-long and active members of Holy Trinity Greek
Orthodox Church. For many years Deddie
and Alex could be seen working at the Annual Greek Picnic, where they made
delicious and very popular Loukoumades (Honey Puffs).
After Alex’s death in 2013, Deddie was grateful for the
company of her devoted sister, Mary Kocos Hoehn, who had moved to Fond du Lac
after the death of her husband. In 2016
Deddie and Mary each sold their homes and moved into apartments at Lakeview
Place, where they made new friendships and shared meals together every
day. Sadly, Mary passed away on January
12, 2020. It was just 15 hours later
that Deddie succumbed to a major stroke that would take her life within 4 days
after her sister’s death.
Deddie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband,
Alex; brothers, James (Jean), John (Jean), Nicholas (Treva), Gus (Pat); and her
beloved sister, Mary (Jack) Hoehn.
She is survived and will be sadly missed by her “Care Team”,
Stan and Marty Kocos, Steve (Cynthia) Kocos, Maureen (Mark) Kraus, and cousin,
Alice Russert. She is further survived
by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews from Wisconsin,
Illinois, and California; and by her brothers-in-law, Marlin (Pauline) Makaris
and Lester (Carrie) Makaris; and by her amazing friends and caregivers at
Lakeview Place.
The visitation will be held
Monday, January 20, 2020 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home and
again on Tuesday from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at the church. A Trisagion Service will be held at 7:00 PM
on Monday at the funeral home. The
funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Holy
Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
Entombment will follow in All Faiths Garden Mausoleum in Rienzi
Cemetery.
The Family would like to express their gratitude to Dr.
Michael Sergi and his Aurora staff, and to the staff at Agnesian Healthcare for
their devotion and care of Deddie over the years.
Guestbook and tribute wall may
be found by visiting ueckerwitt.com.