Evangelos Athanasios Sellas April 4, 1936 – October 20, 2024
Services for Mr. Sellas will take place all in one day on Thursday October 24, 2024 at St. John The Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church, 8500 Archer Avenue Willow Springs Illinois 60480. Visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Funeral Service to begin promptly at 11:00 AM and immediately following the visitation. Evangelos will be laid to rest at Bethania Cemetery of Justice.
For information please call or text Michael Orrico at 815/260-0668
Evangelos A. Sellas passed away peacefully at 88 years of age on the morning of October 20, 2024, after a long, beautiful, well-lived life. Evangelos leaves behind his wife Katerini Sellas, four beautiful children Vicky (Dimitris) Nikolaou, Tina Sellas, John (Nitsa) Sellas, Tom (Christie) Sellas, and his eleven grandchildren: John (Vicky) Nikolaou, Olympia (Niko) Stolidakis, Angelo Sellas, Yiota (David) Brummett, Vaggeli (Janell) Nikolaou, George (Olivia) Sellas, Katerina Koskiniotis, Evangelos Sellas, Mariana Sellas, Christos Koskiniotis, and Adamantios Sellas.
He is also survived by his eight great-grandchildren, Dimitri, Ellia, Niko, Constantino, Vasiliki, Lefteri, Thanasi, and Iliana. In addition to his immediate family, he also leaves behind nieces, nephews, and friends who absolutely loved him immensely .
Athanasios and Vasiliki Sellas welcomed Evangelos into the world on April 4, 1936, in Archaies Kleones, Corinthia. He was the youngest of six siblings, joining his brothers and sisters Giannoula, Vasili, Apostoli, Electra, and Constantino. Evangelos spent his early years in Greece working for his family’s farm, which sparked his lifelong passion for gardening.
Evangelos’ life took a pivotal turn when he met Katerini Litsas. Captivated by his deep love and admiration for her, he made it his mission to win her heart. Determined to prove himself as a worthy provider , Evangelos opened a barbershop in the heart of the village where Katerini often visited, showcasing not only his skills but his dedication to building a future with her. His perseverance paid off, and on January 17, 1963, they were married. Afterward, Evangelos returned to his roots, working as a farmer and shepherd, continuing the life he had always known.
In May of 1974, Evangelos and Katerini immigrated to the United States with their four children to seek a better life. Together , Evangelos and Katerini provided the American Dream for themselves and built a life in America for their children to grow and prosper .
Upon settling in the U.S., Evangelos immediately found work at Burrell Belting Company in Skokie, Illinois, where he worked until his retirement. At the factory, he mastered the intricate art of conveyor belt fabrication and was more than just a foreman–he was the go-to expert. Outside the factory boasted a 400 square foot garden constructed and maintained by Evangelos himself, which provided fruits and vegetables for Evangelos’ s colleagues to enjoy—a testament to his love for community .
After 35 years dedicated to the business, he retired in 2009 and soon after moved to Lodi, California, with Katerini to enjoy retirement. It was here where he expanded his passion for gardening, taking his 2000 square-foot California backyard and turning it into the most impressive garden one could ever imagine. The small plot of land boasted a plethora of plants and trees that grew the most delectable figs, lemons, olives, zucchinis, peppers, tomatoes, andmore. He loved shipping his fruits and vegetables back to Chicago so his children and grandchildren could enjoy.
If you were ever at the Sellas household, it was almost impossible to leave without a bag of vegetables and fruit grown from Evangelos’ s garden. Evangelos would go around to all of his neighbors with boxes of home-grown food for them to enjoy. He was beyond proud of his large, prize-worthy tomatoes, taking the time to showcase them to friends and family at every gathering whenever he could.
Food itself was undoubtedly Evangelos’ s love language. It was far from a rarity for Evangelos to talk about dinner plans before breakfast would finish. He treasured family barbecues and absolutely perfected the art of roasting lamb, which would be on full display every Easter.
Another talent of Evangelos included his penmanship. Throughout his whole life Evangelos was an exceptional poet, and he would very often write poetry for his wife, Katerini. He compiled a collection of his notes and poetry into a book for his wife to keep.
Evangelos was an avid card player, with a special love for poker and cherished games like “Diloti” and “Xeri.” At family gatherings, he often chose to play “Kounkan,” as it allowed more players to join in, ensuring his children and grandchildren could be part of the fun.
Evangelos had a very quiet charm to him and was always extremely outgoing and friendly to everyone. He enjoyed telling stories of his childhood experiences and was fueled by togetherness. When he would enter a room to find loved ones before him, he would always extend his arms displaying the largest smile.
In 2021, Evangelos and Katerini moved back to Chicago, and Evangelos enjoyed the rest of his time on this earth being surrounded by those he loved most. Upon returning to Chicago, Evangelos ensured that a single day was never wasted.
His family knows that although he will be dearly missed here on Earth, Evangelos is surely entering Heaven with his arms extended ready to be reunited with his parents and siblings. May his memory be Eternal. All arrangements entrusted to Orrico Kourelis Funeral Services Inc.