Demetra (Hatzis) Metropoulos ("Yiayia") passed away surrounded by her loving family on June 18th, 2024. Demetra was born in Loganikos, Sparti, Greece on September 16, 1926, and after marrying her late husband Athanasios ("Thanasi") Metropoulos in 1950, immigrated to the United States to join him and start a family. After initially settling in Lowell, MA, Demetra and Athanasios moved to Lynn where they grew their family and resided together for many years while Demetra worked as a seamstress in the garment industry. Demetra would enjoy many trips to Greece over the years with her husband, often joined by her family and especially her beloved son George who pre-deceased her in 2018. Demetra had an excellent memory and was an incredible storyteller, often telling her family about life growing up in Greece and surviving the difficult days of the German occupation of Greece during World War II and the subsequent Greek Civil War. Demetra was always full of life and was an excellent dancer and cook; wherever she went, she was the center of attention and everyone enjoyed her presence. Always active, she most recently harvested olives in the fall of 2023 in Loganikos with her grandkids, Thanasi and Alexis, and beloved nephew Stavro. Demetra was also a benefactor of multiple projects in Loganikos, including providing funds to restore Saint Athanasios Church. Demetra also did all that she could to help others, assisting families in the U.S. and Greece. She will be dearly missed by her loving family and there will never again be anyone like her. Demetra is pre-deceased by her loving husband Athanasios Metropoulos (2016), son George Metropoulos (2018), and is survived by her son Nicholas and his wife Kay (Herouvis) of North Reading, as well as her granddaughter Alexis of Boston, grandson Thanasi and his wife Maria (Pantazelos) of North Reading, and her great-grandson Niko Metropoulos who gave her incredible joy. She is also survived by her daughter Stella Kelliher and her husband Steve, as well as her granddaughter Julia Kelliher of North Reading.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn, MA or Boston Children's Hospital. Funeral services and burial will take place in Loganikos, Sparti, Greece.