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WARREN -- Irene Axiotis, 85, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.
She was born in the village of Viki on the island of Chios, Greece, on Nov. 1, 1940, the daughter of Michael and Kyriaki Fotinos.
Throughout her youth, she helped her family care for their orchards, fruit and vegetable gardens, and their farm animals. In her early adulthood, she traveled to Athens to help her father and other family members build a five-story apartment building that some family still call home today.
On Aug. 21, 1966, she married her beloved Mike in the place she loved most in the world, her village church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou. A few months later, she emigrated to Warren.
Irene and Mike raised their two children, Vivian and Bill, in Howland. Irene, who considered her role as wife and mother a divine calling, poured her entire self into building a home and life for her family. Her love was fierce and unconditional. And the joy she experienced raising her own children was deepened with the arrival of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Whenever loved ones left her home, they could count on a kiss on each cheek and for her to stand at the window waving goodbye and doing the sign of the cross.
A woman of simple pleasures, she could hear a song twice and sing it flawlessly. She could make a delicious pie from bunches of dill, a few greens, parsley, spring onions and, of course, olive oil. Anyone walking by her home might find her tending the vegetable garden she and Mike planted faithfully from their own seeds every spring. Neighborhood kids on their bikes often scored a koulourakia or finiki treat for the road. Other neighbors might wake up to a bag full of washed and trimmed green beans left on their porch ready to be cooked. Irene also had a saying for every occasion, many were ones she heard from her parents and grandparents. She worked at AVI on the "Greek line" for nearly a decade.
In her later years, Irene read and studied the Greek Orthodox faith, taking the time to read the many prayer and religious books she had amassed, especially those given to her by her revered uncle, the Monk Haralambos. Call her and her first words to you were, "I am sitting here saying prayers for all of you." She was a proud member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, the Chios Society "Agia Markella" and the Daughters of Penelope.
She is survived by her children, Vivian (Steven) McGarrity and Bill (Kitsa) Axiotis; her grandchildren, Arianne (Tommy) Kaleel, Kayla (Chris) Georgalos, Eleni Axiotis, and Sophia and Michael McGarrity; great-grandchildren, Yianni and Vasili Georgalos and Michael Kaleel; sisters, Evgenia Psoma and Zoe Felanis; brothers, Christos (Popi) Fotinos and Georgios (Zenovia) Fotinos; brother-in-law, Antonios Skoulikidis; and many nieces and nephews in the United States and Greece.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; her parents; sisters, Despina Lioudi, Vivi Skoulikidis and Kalliope Kantilorou; and brothers-in-law, Christos Psomas, Stelios Loudis, Antonios Kantiloros and Georgios Felanis.
Family and friends may call 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Service will be at noon Friday at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church with Father Constantine Valantasis officiating.
Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 429 High St., Warren, OH 44481.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to view this obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences to the Axiotis family.
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