Mary Pyrros Karay

Mary Pyrros Karay of Temperance, MI,and formerly of Farmington Hills, MI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. She was born in Detroit, MI on May 31, 1926, to George and Helen Pyrros. She married her loving and devoted husband, Nicholas X. Karay on June 22, 1947. Mary attended Wayne State University and taught elementary school at St. Barbara's Parish in Dearborn, MI. She was later employed by AT&T in Redford, MI. Mary was the editor of the Greek cookbook, “Helenic Cuisine”. She served as president of the PTA of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church of Detroit and was an officer of many civic organizations, earning her the prestigious “Greek Woman of the Year” award. She was a member of the D.I.A., AT &T Pioneers, and Philoptochos of Holy Trinity in Toledo and Sts. Constantine and Helen of Westland, MI. Mary loved to entertain and an invitation to her home was an adventure in Greek and American cuisine. She was proud of her heritage and spoke fluent Greek. She is survived by her husband of almost 65 years, Nicholas Karay; her son, Nicholas X. (Michaleen) Karay Jr. of Lambertville, MI; daughter, Helen (Sam) Cracchiolo of Boca Raton, FL; brother, James G. (Betty) Pyrros of Bloomfield Hills, MI and sister, Angeline (Keke) Pyrros of Redford, MI. She was a loving and proud “Yiaya” of Jennifer (Thomas) Margherita of Petosky, MI, Allison (Matthew) Baron of Cary, IL, Christopher (Susana) Cracchiolo of Tampa. FL and Maria (Dr. Stephen) Patten of Columbus, GA. In addition she was the “great Yiaya” of Evan Margherita, Avery Baron, Nicholas and Isabella, Cracchiolo and Natalie, Stevie, John, and Valerie Patten. The family would like to thank her dedicated doctors as well as the nurses and medical staff of The Toledo Hospital (6th Floor NW) and the Ebeid Hospice Center for their compassionate care. Friends are invited to visit from 2-8 p.m. Monday, April 16th, in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, where Trisagion Services will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 17th, at Holy Trinity Greek orthodox Cathedral. Graveside services will be conducted on Wednesday April 18th, at 11:30 a.m., in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Toledo or Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Westland, MI.

Mary Pyrros Karay

May 31, 1926 - April 10, 2012