Vasiliki Bessie Kokkinos

WORCESTER-Vasiliki "Bessie" (Sotiriou) Kokkinos, 78, passed away February 28, 2011 at UMass Memorial Healthcare-University Campus after a brief illness.

She leaves her husband of 58 years, Theodore Kokkinos and her son, Spiro Kokkinos both of Worcester. She also leaves nieces and nephews which include Spiro Efstathiou of Worcester, Anna Engonidis of Holden and Irene Vogiatzis of Wilmington, NC. Vasiliki was predeceased by her sister, Ellie Efstathiou and her brother, Peter Sotiriou.

She was born in Finiki, Epirus, Greece the daughter of Nicholas and Anna (Filliou) Sotiriou, and came to Worcester in 1948. She briefly worked at Table Talk Pie Co. and then briefly worked at Notice Pizza on Highland St. In her later years, she had the pleasure of raising the children of the Tsoules, Fitzpatrick and Drapos families of the Worcester area, she was lovingly known to them as Vascho.

She was a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral and was active at their Grecian festivals.

Vasiliki's funeral will be Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 11:00 AM at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St. There are no visiting hours. Interment will be in Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St., Worcester, MA 01609. Arrangements are under the care of CALLAHAN & FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 61 Myrtle St. www.callahanfay.com.