Laura Housseas was born January 11th, 1919 in Clifton, Oregon to Leon C. Begleries and Grace Davis Begleries. Here she attended a one-room schoolhouse. As a teenager she learned to craft fish nets for CRPA Gill-netters. She was raised with two brothers, Chris and Nick - Laura being the middle child. Sadly, Chris drowned in a fishing accident when Laura was 15. This tragedy created a very close bond between Laura and her surviving brother Nick. Laura worked at a restaurant to help put Nick through college and helped him raise his first son to the age of 7. Little Leon remains especially devoted to his "Thea," holding her in the highest respects.
Laura married Efstratios "Nick" Panagioteres in 1939 and became step mother to his daughter Annette. Later they had two daughters together, Grace and Nikki. Together they lived in Astoria until moving to Portland in 1951. After the move Laura and Efstratios separated. In 1973 Laura was remarried to Pamenados Housseas. He preceeded her in death in 1983.
Laura had the distinct privilege of baptizing her best girlfriend's baby boy, Michael Rulli, who has always kept their bond alive. She was also the Godmother to Christopher, Michael's son. There are so many people who have basked in the brilliance of Laura's love and compassion. She may have only been the biological mother to Grace and Nikki, but she acted as a mother for many other children. Those who knew her called her "Laura the Matriarch" for her role as a leader, supporter, advisor, mentor and best friend to all she came into contact with. She loved her religion and being a first born Greek descendent. She was a loyal and devoted member of Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Portland and volunteered her time and energy to the annual Greek Festival and to the first Greek-American women's foundation in the U.S.., the Daughters of Penelope.
Laura passed away December 2nd, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. She is preceded in death by her husband Pamenados Housseas, step daughter Annette Arnall and granddaughter Joylee Pentz. She is survived by her loving daughters Grace Ann and her spouse Charles Sampson and Nikki and her spouse Robert Bloch, as well as her grandchildren Cathi Syregelas, Christopher Syregelas, Nick Syregelas, Doug Arnall, Alicia Morgan and a host of great grandchildren. Laura's pallbearers are Chris Begleries, Nick Begleries, Jim Rulli, Nick Rulli, George Karis and Dimitri Touhoulatis.
In lieu of flowers remembrances can be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and/or Father Elias Stephanopoulos Memorial Fund
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