Esther E. Kiriakedis

Esther Elizabeth Kiriakedis was born July 1st, 1926 in Portland, OR to Swedish and German immigrant parents. She graduated from Boise Grade School and Jefferson High School. In her youth she made many trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she was successfully treated for Gaucher's Disease, which had been incurable up to that time. She worked at her family business, Roehm Hardware Store, which was the first in Portland to have a franchise to sell General Electric products. Her high school art teacher submitted her name, without her knowledge, for a scholarship that she was awarded for the University of Oregon Art School. Unfortunately, her family insisted that she attend business school. Later she worked as a sales person at Charles F. Berg clothing store in downtown Portland where she had the opportunity to do some modeling. Eventually, she did study art at the Portland Art museum and also with Mildred Warner doing fashion illustrations. She became more adventurous and began working as a stewardess for the Union Pacific Railroad and worked on the Portland to Chicago line. She married Thomas Kiriakedis in 1951. After marriage she had three children, volunteered for many organizations, and worked for the family businesses. She was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. She passed away September 4th, 2008. She is survived by her sister, Elaine Barrett, three children, Debby Christy and husband Alex, Gus and wife Manami, Tom and wife Mary, and six grandchildren. The family requests donations be sent to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Robison Jewish Health Center, or Oregon Humane Society.

Service

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
3131 NE Glisan Street
Portland , OR US
Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 11:00 AM

Cemetery

Rose City Cemetery
5625 N.E. Fremont St.
Portland , OR US 97213-1754
Tuesday, September 9, 2008,

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