Litsa Karamanis

Nicoletta “Litsa” Karamanis was born on the island of Syros, Greece on December 15th, 1934. She grew up in the port city of Piraeus Greece, an urban area of Athens. Her father was a merchant marine, who with his two brothers, was caught in New York city as the US entered World World II. As members of an allied nation, they became naturalized US citizens and established residence. They eventually opened a restaurant and became business entrepreneurs. After the war, Litsa, with her brother George and mother Erifili and extended family, moved to the United States to join them.

Litsa was always an exceptional student, both while studying in Greece and in New York city. She attended New York University and was a book keeper at The Atlantic Bank. In 1957, she returned to Greece for holiday and re-kindled a friendship with close family friend Ioannis “John” Karamanis. They fell in love and were married soon after. After having served as an officer in the Greek military, John was a manager at a bank in Piraeus Greece. He eventually left his position and set sail on the SS United States to be with Litsa in New York city.

John became a business entrepreneur in his own right, owning a series of hair salons in the New York region and later in the Washington, DC region. They eventually permanently relocated to the Washington, DC metropolitan area in 1974 and became regular parishioners at Saint Katherines Greek Orthodox church in Falls Church, Virginia.

John and Litsa have two sons. Anastasios “Stan” served for twenty years in the United States Coast Guard and was decorated many times. He currently continues his service to the nation as a civilian employee of the United States Marine Core. Stan is married to his loving wife Lorraine, has one child, and three granddaughters. John and Litsa’s youngest son Dimitrios “Jim” is the Director of Information Technology Design & Development at The Library of Congress. He and his wife of more than twenty years “Kati” have two loving daughters that are working on their education.

Litsa leaves behind her loving husband of 65 years, two sons / daughter-inlaws, three grand children and three great grandchildren. She will always be remembered as being a kind & loving mother who would do anything for her family. She was also known by family and friends to be an incredible cook who loved sharing her skill for all to enjoy.

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