Freda Valavanis
July 24, 1940 - January 08, 2023
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Freda Valavanis
July 24, 1940 - January 08, 2023
Obituary
Freda Valavanis, 82, of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on January 8, 2023. Born in Huntington, West Virginia, on July 24, 1940, she was a daughter of the late Nicholas and Dispina (Arvanitis) Valavanis.
Freda graduated from Marshall High School in Huntington and Morris Harvey College in Charleston with a B.S. in Education. She later received certification in languages. Freda taught elementary school in many schools in many locations – from Charleston, West Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, and later returning to Kanawha County, West Virginia. Her sense of adventure led her to discover these new places.
Freda enjoyed family gatherings and Greek cultural events. Throughout her life, she sustained a deep religious faith. In recent years, she attended Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, participating in the church’s many activities. Always social, her friends appreciated her quick wit and sense of humor, as well as her compassion and caring.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Kurt Theurer, and sister, Artemis Wilhour.
Freda is survived by her sister, Christine Valavanis; brother-in-law, Jim Wilhour; nephew, Christopher (Kim) Theure; great niece and nephew, Kristin Theurer and Justin (Nicole) Isaac, and niece, Sylvia Harding.
Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Blvd. E, Charleston, West Virginia, with Pastor Randolf Richardson officiating.
Visitation will begin one hour prior at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charleston, West Virginia, or St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Huntington, West Virginia.
Condolences may be sent and shared with the family at www.barlowbonsall.com .
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, West Virginia, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorial Service
- Date & Time: January 21, 2023 (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
- Venue: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Location: 1600 Kanawha Blvd. E. Charleston, WV 25301 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (304) 342-5212
Visitation
- Date & Time: January 21, 2023 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
- Venue: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Location: 1600 Kanawha Blvd. E. Charleston, WV 25301 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (304) 342-5212
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Address: Charleston, WV - (Get Directions)
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
- Address: Huntington, WV - (Get Directions)
6 responses to Freda Valavanis
Tina Turk says:
January 14, 2023
Freda was such a good friend We grew up together in the Greek Church in Huntington, W.V. My mother Melpo and Freda s mother Despina were best friends
Freda and I kept in touch. I would go visit her and take her out to eat. I made Greek cookies for her and on occasion took her to the Greek Church in Charleston. I bought a step stool for my SUV so Freda could get in and out easily. Her mother was my son’s other Yiayia. Freda kept saying on many occasion’s why do you do all the things you do for me. My reply was that your mother was so good to my mother when she was sick with cancer. She brought my mother Greek chicken soup every night for three weeks straight while she went through radiation. At that time Freda and Despina lived in their homeplace. Freda kept saying may God bless you for all the nice things you do for me. I kept telling her we are like family. I used to fuss at her when she wouldn’t tell me she was in the hospital or or in a nursing home. I told her I worry about you. She told me she did not want to be a burden on anyone that is why she took care of her funeral arrangements before she died. She asked me do you think I did the right thing and I told her yes. If I didn’t call her she was calling me. The last time I spoke to her was New Year’s Day when she called to wish me a Happy New Year. I will miss my good friend immensely. May her soul be everlasting. She is in peace and not suffering anymore.
Sincerely, Tina Turk