Athanasia Stathopoulos Johnson

Athanasia Stathopoulos Johnson After a courageous battle with lung disease, Athanasia “Soula” Stathopoulos Johnson passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on January 30, 2016, coinciding with the Greek Orthodox feast day of St. Athanasia the Martyr. Athanasia was born on October 14, 1941 in Pyrgos, Greece, the daughter of Theodora and Constantine Stathopoulos and the youngest of five children. She moved with her family to Athens, where she continued her studies and attended business school. In 1967, she journeyed to America and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she worked at the Marine National Exchange Bank of Milwaukee. In 1969, she married the love of her life, Alan Johnson, and together they moved to Bradenton, Florida and raised two children, Theodora and Constantine. In 1978, she proudly became an American citizen on the same day that she and Alan realized their American dream with the opening of their small business Johnson’s Optical Fashions. Athanasia’s Christian faith was of utmost importance to her, and she was one of the first members of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church established in 1973. Athanasia will be remembered for her limitless generosity with her family, friends and even strangers she met along the way. She was a longtime supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Wounded Warriors. She loved her family profusely and felt deeply for all who were less fortunate and afflicted by pain or illness. Athanasia is survived by her beloved husband, Alan Johnson; son Constantine “Gus” Johnson; daughter Theodora “Dora” (George) Miller of Richmond, Va.; stepdaughter Robin (Jeff) Vossetieg; stepson Alan (Marcia) Johnson, Jr.; grandchildren, Alexander, Savannah and Ariana; step-grandchildren, Sueanne, Karina, Hayley; and step great-granddaughter Zenai. She is survived by her sister, Maria (Nick) Birbilis of Bradenton and brother, Dr. Petros (Estathia) Stathopoulos of Chicago; brothers, George Stathopoulos and Panos Stathopoulos of Athens, Greece; nieces and nephews, Jean (Nick) Malliaras, Panos Birbilis, Constantine (Georgia) Stathopoulos, Christine (Josh) Waldbeser, Constantine Stathopoulos and Dionisios Stathopoulos (also her godson), Dr. Theodora Stathopoulos and Diana Stathopoulos; great nieces and nephews Marie (George), George, Craig, Ava, Marissa, Maximos, Marios, Dany, Sofianna, George, Ioanna, George, Fany, Panos and Mary; goddaughter, Katina; and her four-legged companion, Spike. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-laws Mary Stathopoulos and Ioanna Stathopoulos of Greece, and grandnephew Constantine “Dean” Malliaras. Visitation and Trisagion Prayer Service will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016, from 6-8 PM at Griffith-Cline Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 2, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Sarasota. Interment will follow at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.