LYNN — Diane Demakes, age 96, of Lynn, died Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She was the daughter of the late Euthymios and Ioanna “Jean” (Koutsogeorge) Demakes. She was born and raised in Lynn, where she lived until 1976. She moved to Swampscott and lived there the rest of her life. She graduated from Lynn Classical High School, Class of 1937.
As a youngster, Diana worked with her parents and siblings in producing her mother’s recipe for Greek Sausage “Locanico”, originally peddled in their Waterhill Street neighborhood, later sold locally under the Holiday Brand label, and today by Old Neighborhood Foods.
She was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn, where in her younger day, she enjoyed singing in the choir, as well as, traveling to Europe on several extended trips.
She worked for Holiday Brand on Waterhill Street as a bookkeeper until 1957. After retirement as a Credit Union Manager from Cabot Corp in 1982, she was the first woman elected to the Board of Directors at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn and served as Treasurer for several years.
Diana was the youngest of her large family and was devoted to them. She was the last of her siblings to survive, living a long and blessed life, facing all the losses she suffered with grace. In later years, she loved visits from her many nieces and nephews, and enjoyed cooking and sharing her recipes. For many years she hosted family parties at Christmas and Easter at her condo clubhouse. These festivities were enjoyed by third and fourth generations of Demakes descendants. She has left all her family with unforgettable memories.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Louis E. and Nicholas Demakes, Atty. Charles Demakis, Peter Demakis, Mary Katsos, Carol Billows and Alice Comenos.
Service information: A funeral service for Diana will be held on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Lynn at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held in the church from 9-11 a.m. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, “Burn the Mortgage Fund”, 54 So. Common St., Lynn, MA 01902. Arrangements are by SOLIMINE Funeral Home, Lynn, Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.