Helen Tsingarris Antonis

Helen Tsingarris Antonis passed peacefully Tuesday, May 18, 2021 surrounded by her children.

Helen was born and raised in San Francisco by her Greek immigrant parents John Tsingarris and Katharine Volis. She graduated from academically acclaimed Lowell High School before heading off to San Jose State University and then University California Berkeley where she majored in English Literature.

Helen and her husband Gus were married in 1956 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in San Francisco and quickly started their family. It was Helen's priority to always keep her children connected with their aunts, uncles and cousins, in the close-knit Greek community. They raised their children between homes in Los Altos Hills, Calif., and Lake Oswego, Oregon. Through the years, she stayed involved in the community serving as a PTA member and past President, a member of Portland Assistance League, A founding Co-Chair for Kid's and Cancer Camp Agape and member of Holy Trinity Ladies Philoptochos, a philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Helen was a devoted mother and wife. To say that she loved being a mother is an understatement. In fact, she was like everyone's mother, her house was always open whether it was feeding a large group or simply listening to a friend in need. She was fun and spontaneous, taking her kids out of school for San Francisco shopping trips or loading the family in the station wagon and heading to their vacation home in Lake Oswego. Everything was an adventure.

The family moved to Lake Oswego in 1977 and as her children grew more independent, Helen directed her talents toward real estate sales becoming a top producer for the then Handel, Hasson and Jones company. She was also a talented artist and her paintings hang in the homes of friends and family. She loved to travel between her home in Palm Desert, Calif., and Lake Oswego, but it was her later trips with her friends traveling throughout Europe that brought her joy. Helen's enduring legacy will always be her unshakable belief in the power of family bonds. She taught her family not only to celebrate each other's strengths, but also understand, accept and support each other's vulnerabilities. She was an active grandparent with her grandchildren, routinely going straight from school to Yiayia's house to do homework, paint or share a meal.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Kathy Melcher (husband, Greg); sons, John (wife, Sophia), Anthony (wife, Teresa), and Michael (wife, Simone); sister, Joanne (husband, Connie); grandchildren, Alex (wife, Hillary), Kosta, Eleni and Nik. Preceded in death by her husband, Constantine "Gus" John Antonis.

Helen's family would like to thank Kelly Yoo RN and Maggie Lee for their loving care and assistance over this past year.

A funeral was held Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Interment took place in Lake Oswego Pioneer Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to Kids "n" Cancer Camp Agape or to Ladies Philoptochos, both c/o Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Tsingarris Antonis, please visit our floral store.