Theofilos Kotsores December 18th, 1925 – July 3rd 2023
Visitation for Theofilos Kotsores will be held on Wednesday, July 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Maher Funeral Home, 17101 71st Avenue, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 (one block East of Harlem on 171st Street). Trisagion Service at 6:00 p.m. Friends and family are asked to meet Thursday, July 20th at 10:00 a.m. directly at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 11025 South Roberts Road, Palos Hills Illinois 60465, for the funeral service. Theofilos will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, IL.
In lieu of flowers, the family will accept donations in Theofilos’ memory for the Agios Kirykos Hospital in Ikaria for the purchase of needed medical equipment. If you have questions, please contact Dena Kotsores at dkotsores@me.com or 708-448-5121.
For information please contact Michael Orrico @ 815/260-0668 or Orricofuneral@comcast.net
Theofilos Kotsores, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away on July 3rd, 2023 surrounded by his family in his home in Ikaria. Theofilos lived a full life that took him all over the world; always a fighter from the start of his life to its end. He was resilient in the face of the obstacles and adversity that came his way. He was born on December 18th, 1925 on the island of Ikaria, the oldest of 8 siblings, and as a young boy worked on the boats (καΐκια). At the age of 16, he joined the Greek resistance during World War II. He was captured by the Germans and first sent to Genti Koule prison in Thessaloniki and then a concentration camp in Germany for three years, where he was sentenced to hard labor. Once the camps were liberated, he made the journey back home to Greece on foot which took five months. He went on to join the Greek Merchant Marines and traveled all over the world. Eventually, he went to the United States, where he met his wife Anna Facaros, settled in Chicago and had 3 children. Through his hard work, he became a successful restaurant owner and helped some of his siblings come to the Unites States. He retired and returned with Anna to his beloved Ikaria, where he enjoyed the next 37 years fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Anna Kotsores, son Tracy Kotsores (late Maria), and grandson Nick Kotsores. He is survived by his wife Eleni Karles, daughters Marcy Hardaloupas (Sarantos) and Dena Kotsores, grandchildren, Theo Kotsores (Jamie), Alex Kotsores (Monica), Apostolis Hardaloupas (Evrithiki), and Anna Hardaloupas (Evangelos), as well as great-grandchildren Tracy and Sofia Kotsores, Eva and Marko Hardaloupas, and Maria Kotsores. Beloved uncle to many.
We will always remember the lessons he taught – one of his last messages to his grandchildren was “that if you fail in your life at something, don’t give up, try again and from the beginning.” We were lucky to have him in our lives for so many years. Orrico Kourelis Funeral Services Inc. entrusted with all arrangements.