Mary A. Vlahakis

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Mary Vlahakis passed away peacefully at the age of 91 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 10, 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa. After graduating from North High School, she worked for Travelers Insurance for 12 years as a Stenographer, earning a reputation for her exceptional shorthand skills. In 1962, she met Louis Vlahakis at a wedding in Chicago. They fell in love and were married the following year, in 1963.

Mary was known for her unwavering devotion to her faith and her family, filling her life with love and purpose. Her greatest joy was in being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and Godmother. An avid sports fan, Mary always cheered for the Spartans, Lions, and Tigers. Together, Mary and Louie shared a love for the performing arts, spending many years attending events at the Wharton Center. She had a flair for fashion and decorating, and enjoyed entertaining friends in both Lansing and Florida.

Guided by her faith, she lived her beliefs every day and treated everyone with the dignity they deserved. As an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, she will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her two loving sons, Jim (Sue) Vlahakis and Nick (Karen) Vlahakis, her four grandchildren and their spouses, and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Louie.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1701 E. Saginaw Street, Lansing, which will be available during the funeral by livestream.  Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.  Her family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 12, with the Trisagion service at 7:30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in memory of Mary Vlahakis.