Mary S. Cherpes

Mary Cherpes, founding member of Saint Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church, passed peacefully into eternity with our Lord on August 22, 2018.  She was preceded by her husband Lou Cherpes, who passed away 5 years ago this summer.  She is survived by her sons and their wives: Perry and Cindy, Greg and Marlena, and Mark and Victoria, along with grandchildren: Louis, Arthur, Matthew, Joshua, Lindsey, Alex, Claudia, Kate, Erika, Alex, and Andrei, and many loving nieces and nephews.  Mary suffered from COPD and other complications, and was 84 when she finally succumbed to the disease.  Mary was surrounded by her immediate family when she passed, and had the thoughts and prayers of all her beloved nieces and nephews (and their children).

Though Mary grew up in Washington, DC, she also spent time living on a "rural" farm in Arlington, VA (imagine that).  She also lived in Athens, Greece during her late teens but moved back to the US to live with her sister Anne (Anastasia) Duranti who owned a restaurant with her husband Rocco Duranti in Pittsburgh, PA.  While living in Pittsburgh she met Louis (Lou) Cherpes while out with their good friends Frank and Mary Manios, and the four remained lifelong friends.  Lou and Mary were married in Pittsburgh in February 1957 and were together for 56 years until Lou's passing in 2013.  They moved to Washington, DC in 1960 when Lou took a job with the US Government and became actively involved in the Greek Orthodox community as founding members of Saint Katherine when at that time all church services were held in what is now Chelpon Hall.  Mary started her own Interior design business , and eventually opened and operated a retail store in Chantilly, VA.  

Mary was a devoted wife, mother, and Yiayia, and lived a blessed life in the church. Everyone who met Mary felt her kindness and love.  She will be forever missed.  May her memory be eternal! 

The viewing will be held this Sunday August 26th at the Everly Funeral Home in Falls Church, VA from 4:00pm - 7:00pm.  The funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Monday August 27th at Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

Donations in her honor may be made to Saint Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church, Capital Improvement Program.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary S. Cherpes, please visit our floral store.