Elsie Rigas

Naples, Florida

Elsie Antonette (Manolakis) Rigas

Elsie A. Rigas, beloved wife, sister and aunt passed away peacefully on Friday, October 4, 2024 in Naples, Florida.

Elsie was born on February 14, 1934 in Morgantown, West Virginia the daughter of Caliope and Andy Manolakis and lived most of her life in Canfield, Ohio. Elsie married Augustas Rigas on February 16, 1958.

Elsie was blessed with extraordinary talents.  She was a brilliant student, graduating top in her high school class.  She attended West Virginia University and received her degree in medical technology.  During her training and career she excelled in lab work and procedures dealing with patients.  Her skills prompted her medical school instructors to encourage her to continue her studies and become a surgeon, but she chose to stay in her profession.  Her career led her to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.  It was at St. Elizabeth Hospital that she met her beloved husband, Gus, while she was helping with the care of Gus’ mother. 

Elsie’s talents extended to the fashion world.  As a young girl, she designed and made her own clothes.  She also designed her beautiful wedding gown which, years later, she lovingly gave to her goddaughter, Carolyn, to wear at her wedding.

Elsie loved to garden, preparing gourmet meals with the vegetables and fruits she planted and the wild game Gus would often bring home from his hunting adventures.  She had mastered many Greek dishes, always tweaking recipes to give them her unique touch.

Elsie is survived by her two loving sisters, Sylvia Baker of Indianapolis, IN and Mary Katsafanas of Tomball, TX.   She is also survived by many nieces and nephews- Andrea Pappas (Leon), Carolyn McBride (Tom), Andy Katsafanas (Nathalie), Katherine Daigle (Luke) , Elizabeth “Tizzie” Mantione (Tom), Michael Logothetis and Jennifer Logothetis Brown (Richard).

Great nieces and great nephews surviving are Georgiana Pappas Naylor (Zachary), Danielle Pappas Larew (Connor), Tommy McBride (Veronica), Caliope McBride Vlahos (Eleftherios), Paige Katsafanas, Zachary Katsafanas, Sofia Daigle, Zoe Daigle, Nicholas Mantione, Jaquelyn Mantione, Sophie Brown, Alexander Brown, Aiden Brown, Sarah Logothetis and great great niece Amalia Kay Larew. 

Preceding Elsie in death are her husband, Augustas C. Rigas, brothers-in-law Dan Baker and Alex Katsafanas, brother-in-law Frank Rigas and his wife Cynthia Rigas, sister-in-law Margaret Rigas Logothetis and her husband Sorrell Logothetis.

Elsie was a member of St. John’s The Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church, Youngstown, and St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida.  While in Youngstown, she was an active member of the charitable group, Angels of Easter Seal.

Calling hours will be on Friday, October 25, from 4pm-6pm, with a Trisagion Service at 5:30pm at Vaschak Kirila Funeral Home, 3100 Canfield Rd., Youngstown, Ohio 44511.  Funeral service will be Saturday, October 26 with a viewing time of 10:30-11:00am and the Funeral Service at 11:00am at St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church, 4955 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown 44512.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church.

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