Kathy Pappas Jatras, 65, of Woodbridge, VA, passed away September 8, 2019, after a battle with pleural mesothelioma (cancer). She was born in Bronx, New York on July 12, 1954, to the late Louis and Georgia Pappas.
Kathy spent her youth in Astoria, New York before moving to Athens, Greece, where her father served with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. There, she met her future husband James George Jatras at the American Community Schools of Athens, where they graduated first and second in their class. She and James married on June 8, 1974 at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Astoria.
Kathy received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Tufts University in 1976 and her Master of Science from George Washington University in 1985.She used her mathematical talents throughout her career. After joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a statistical analyst, Kathy also worked as an analyst at Booz Allen and later started an independent practice called Organized Finances Unlimited helping individual clients as a certified financial planner.
She and James have two daughters, Alexandra and Christina.In addition to her love for her own daughters, Kathy was a devoted godmother to over a dozen godchildren. She was a dedicated parishioner at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, where she was active in the Ladies Philoptochos Society.
Kathy is survived by her husband James of forty-five years, her sister Elaine Marshall, her father-in-law George Jatras, her daughters Alexandra Schmalzbach and Christina Jatras, and her son-in-law Brian Schmalzbach. She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Stella, Peter, Josiah, and Sebastian Schmalzbach.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, September 11 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at Everly Funeral Home, 6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044. Services will be held on Thursday, September 12 at 11:00am at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041. She will be laid to rest on Friday, September 13 at 1:30pm at East Harrisburg Cemetery, 2260 Herr Street, Harrisburg, PA 17103.
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