Aglaia Caplanis
Obituary
Aglaia (Kopitsas) Caplanis was born April 27, 1919 in Kato Figalia, Greece to Leonidas & Cleopatra (Papaspirou) Kopitsas. She was the youngest of eight children. Aglaia passed away peacefully in Tulsa surrounded by family members and priests on September 10, 2015.
Her marriage to Tom Caplanis in 1950 was arranged by relatives in Greece. Aglaia and Tom made the voyage from Greece to Italy and arrived in the United States on Thanksgiving Day 1950. She looked forward to telling the story of their voyage every year during Thanksgiving.
Aglaia was the consummate Greek mother. She took great care of her husband Tom and her daughters Cleopatra, Athena, and Rita. When her daughters married Steve and Mike, she welcomed them without reservation and treated them as her own sons.
She was blessed with four grandchildren – Kelly, Clyde, Alyssa, and Kayla. As time passed, she welcomed Mark and Adam as part of the family,and ultimately two great grandchildren – Makinzie and Philippa. She cherished her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.
Aglaia loved her family.
Aglaia also loved her church. She attended Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church in Tulsa for more than 60 years. The Orthodox Church conducts services almost every day of the week throughout the year. Aglaia attended almost every service and, many times, was the only parishioner in the pews.
She was a familiar face at Tulsa’s Annual Greek Festival for more than 50 years. She could usually be found serving Loukoumades (honey puffs) and visiting with people throughout the festival. Her favorite part of the festival was watching the dancing. She especially enjoyed watching the young children dance.
Her favorite social event was Margarita Wednesday. One of the highlights of her week, she loved eating Mexican food and visiting with family and friends every Wednesday night.
Aglaia will be greatly missed and loved always by her family and many, many friends. Aglaia’s family is grateful for the love and respect shown to YiaYia by friends throughout the years, and is especially grateful for the compassion and caring of Aglaia by Lilika Panas, Dr. David Kondos, and Carolyn Edmondson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider donating to one of the local Orthodox Christian churches:
• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (http://holytrinity.ok.goarch.org/ )
• St. Antony Antiochian Orthodox Church (http://www.stantonytulsa.com/ )
• Holy Apostles Orthodox Christian Church (https://holyapostlesorthodox.org/ )
Through her actions, Aglaia set a great example for the manner in which each of us can live a loving life of integrity, a life of grace, and a life of dignity.
May her memory be eternal.
Events
Tributes & Memories
Our sympathy to all of you. Mrs. Caplanis was always so very kind to us. Memory Eternal!
Dimitri and Helen Kousparis
Rita, loved reading about your sweet mother. What a beautiful and interesting life she led! I am sorry for her passing, I understand what it is like to be without a mom. I will be thinking and praying for you and your family these next few days.
Valerie Hollingshead
May her memory be eternal
Lee & Maria Nelson
Rita, I'm so sorry for your loss and I wish I had been able to attend the funeral today. Please accept our deepest sympathies. Peace, Adrian
Adrian
So sorry for your loss Rita. Though I did not know your lovely mother, it appears she was so very loved and cherished by friends and family alike. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Kathy Naifeh Heinz
Lit a candle in memory of Aglaia Caplanis
Andrew and Marti Iatridis
May her memory be eternal! We will miss dear Aglaia. She was so sweet and always smiling. Our love to all of her family, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Andrew and Marti Iatridis
Mrs Caplanis was alway very kind to me. May she rest in peace.
Lee Nelson
May her memory be eternal
Dean & Sandy Boyaci
Lit a candle in memory of Aglaia Caplanis
Timothy and Debbie Prayson
Rita and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you. will always remember your mom's smiling face & the twinkle in her eye as she made each & every one of us feel special. She will be missed.
Pat & Theona
So sorry to hear this. My sympathy to the family and friends of Aglaia. Lisa Acosta
Lisa Acosta
May her memory be eternal.
Dr. Alex (Bobby) Prayson
May her memory be eternal! one thing we always counting on when going to Church was seeing Kyria Kaplanis in her familiar spot. She always had kind words to share whenever we greeted her and we will miss her but know that she is now closer to God.
Nicholas Boyaci
May her Memory be eternal.
Stephen and Nicole Prayson
Athena, Rita and Family -- I fondly remember your mother -- so faithful to her church. Athena -- you were such a faithful and good daughter to her. May her memory be eternal+ Love you all -- Rob
Rob Sandlin
I will miss your mom very much!!! She was a dear friend to my mother & always made us both feel special & part of her family. She had a welcoming & generous spirit! May her memory be eternal!!!
Maria Nelson
My condolences for Aglaia Caplanis.I will miss her greatly not seeing her in the front row every Sunday and her pleasant smile and greeting. I feel comfort in the thought that God gave her a good ending and her soul rests in the place where the righteous are.
maria valkanas
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Your mother always made us feel welcome and part of the family. What a wonderful role model and example for all of us! I will miss her asking us when the daughter will be on the way... :)
Christina and John Kearns
In loving memory.
Andonios Prayannis
Dear Ones, It should comfort you to know that your mother lived a long and fulfilling life surrounded by a truly loving and wonderful family. She was a lucky woman. We will remember her lovely smile of greeting at whatever church event, and appreciated her steadfast faith. in the church. A visit to her home was met with the traditional Greek hospitality. "May I offer you a cup of coffee?" which of course was always accompanied with a cookie or two. We will remember her in all fondness and respect. With sincere and loving condolences, Alice & Jim
Jim & Alice Costas
Rita, Mike and family, thinking of you at this time. What a beautiful woman and love her story. Hold tight to all the memories, I know how much she will be missed. Take care. Vicki
Vicki Heiken
To Mike & Rita and the entire Caplanis family, Please accept our deepest sympathy. We are so sorry for your loss. Mrs. Caplanis was a fixture in the Greek community. I will always remember her with a smile on her face. Tom & Sue Lynn Warren
Tom & Sue Lynn Warren
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