Loula Stolis November 9, 1928 – January 29, 2024
Services for Mrs. Stolis will be held all in one day on March 4th at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 7560 Archer Road, Justice Illinois 60458. The Visitation will take place 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Funeral service will begin promptly at 10:30 AM and immediately following the visitation. She will be laid to rest alongside her beloved Nick at Bethania Cemetery of Justice.
In lieu of flowers The Stolis Family kindly asks that you consider a memorial in Loula’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospitals. Please use the link provided below and Elaine’s email as the family contact. espapanton@comcast.net
For information please call or text Michael Orrico at 815/260-0668
Loula Stolis (Angelos) passed away peacefully in her sleep at 95 years of age on January 29th, 2024 after a long, beautiful, well-lived life. Loula leaves behind her three daughters, Effie (Dimitris) Arvanitis, Joanne (Haris) Basiakos, and Elaine (the late James) Papanton, her eight grandchildren, Dina (Marcel) Mihalaris, Leonidas Arvanitis, Sotiris (Elisabeth) Basiakos, Vicky (Daniel) Sugden, Zackie (Frank) Kowal, Tricia Papanton, Aristotle (Kate) Papanton, and Nicole Papanton. She is also survived by her three, beloved great-grandsons Vasilis, Haris, and Francis Joseph Jr.
In addition to her immediate family, she also leaves behind countless nieces, nephews, and friends who absolutely adored her.
Loula was the daughter of the late Pano and Eleni Angelos, and dear sister of the late Angelo (Kathy), the late Anthony (the late Eleni), the late Niko (the late Popi), the late Amalia (the late Pete) Deligianis, and the late Vivian (the late Dr. John) Christiakis.
Loula came to the United States from Vrina, Greece; a small, Greek village, at only 23 years old, on April 30th, 1951. She arrived with her brother Tony; without the English language or money in their pockets. They stayed with their uncle Anthony Angelos, whom Loula adored and respected beyond words. She spoke of him often throughout her life with the utmost love, respect and nostalgia.
She worked tirelessly from the moment she arrived, taking a job in a bakery and later in a bank where she learned the English language and American way of life. After meeting Nick and becoming man and wife, they set forth on their journey to build something amazing for themselves and their girls, and to give them more than the two of them had ever had or dreamed of. She was married to her one true love, Nick Stolis, for 44 years. Together, they lived out the American dream and built an empire.
They were the original owners of Oak Lawn Restaurant, followed by Stoll’s Restaurant, Nick’s Fish Net, Pasta Di Familia, and Chantilly Banquets.
Chantilly was the gathering place for so many family weddings, Mother’s Day Brunches, kids’ birthday parties, and more. So many memories were made in that “pink palace” Loula and Nick built from the ground-up. Her sweet tables, set with beautiful ice sculptures and fruit baskets, were her greatest pride. Loula worked as the ultimate “boss lady” well into her mid-seventies. She knew the importance of keeping busy and she continued to find crafts and hobbies to take on and perfect, up to the day she left this earth. She made beautiful “miniatures” and other creations that adorn family and friends homes around the world. While she was still able, she’d frequently visit trade shows to find special beads to create one-of-a-kind jewelry. It was her love language to create beautiful things and then give them to family, friends, and new acquaintances.
Her pieces are loved by those who have been gifted her work, all around the world!
Besides keeping her hands busy with creating, she always kept her mind busy. She was a voracious reader to the very end and an avid student of history, specifically involving Asia Minor. She was able to recite facts from memory and would seamlessly weave her own experiences, along with family member’s experiences into those historical facts. She painted a vivid picture of history for all who would listen to her tell it. Her memory and stories will live on through the beautiful stories she shared, that her loved ones will pass down for generations.
Loula always presented herself as the ultimate class-act and carried herself with grace and elegance from another time. A natural beauty, she’d never leave the house without a beautiful piece of jewelry, like pearls, around her neck and just a little lipstick. She carried herself in a coquettish fashion, like a Hollywood starlet from the 1940’s with her grace and affinity for fashion and beautiful things. Her greatest affinity, though, was for her family. She was fiercely loyal and protective for her family and gave her all to her loved ones, every single day of her life.
She was effortlessly quick-witted and funny. She blessed all her loved ones with so many laughs throughout their lives. Her loved ones were blessed to have so many beautiful years of love, beauty and laughter with Loula. She was one of a kind, truly an angel on Earth.
Her family knows that although she will be dearly missed here on Earth, Loula is surely making Heaven a more fabulous place as she has been reunited with her true love, Nick, her parents, and all of her siblings.
May her memory be Eternal. All arrangements entrusted to Orrico Kourelis Funeral Services Inc.