Susana G. Kugeares

Susana G. Kugeares (1932-2023) Susana G. Kugeares, age 91, of Nemea, Korinthias, Greece, left this world to be with her Heavenly Father on August 18, 2023 peacefully and without pain while in the compassionate care of McGraw Community Hospice at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. She was born the fourth child of George Sotirios Kugeares and Zoe (Kostouros) Kugeares in her beloved village of Nemea. As a child, she survived Nazi occupation of her village during WWII, and lean times and communist violence in the years following which she said only strengthened her faith in God. A dedicated student even in these hard times, she proudly graduated from Nemea’s Lykeion (high school) in 1951. She devoted her life to her family and the Greek Orthodox Church. Having never married, she doted on both of her parents, caring for their every need throughout their lives. Following their deaths, she began spending every winter in Florida and in 2021 moved permanently to Jacksonville, Florida with her brother to be closer to family. She had a life-long love of animals, routinely rescuing and nurturing strays, and loved her favorite Greek soccer team, AEK. She loved to sing and dance participating in Nemea’s cultural heritage club and getting nieces and friends to join her. She never met a stranger and loved to travel, visiting every historic church and monastery she could and sharing her pilgrimages with family and friends. She spent countless hours acquiring and reading books about the lives of the saints and the mysteries of Orthodox Christianity. Her sparkling crystal eyes and contagious, joyous laugh were her trademark and remained brilliant and unforgettable until the end. Her quick wit, easy humor, and kind gentility endeared her to all who met her. She had endless compassion and generosity for anyone in need, often feeding the poor or donating clothing, resources for their children anonymously. Above all, she will be remembered for her quiet, patient courage in the face of adversity and for her unshakable faith in God that she shared with everyone. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her beloved older brother, Sotirios G. Kugeares of Jacksonville, Florida, her beloved younger sister, Evanthia Patzias of Ann Arbor, Michigan and three generations of nieces and nephews who all love their “Thea” or “Yiayia Sana.” A visitation will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023 between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the St. Johns Family Funeral Home, 385 State Rd 207, St. Augustine, FL 32084. For those unable to attend in person, the visitation will be live streamed at: https://iframe.dacast.com/live/2a7a09ae1c0559a83ef537e05e6a14a6/2aae7d5f-98fd-a9e6-32a7-b774547cf42c. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 2940 CR 214 (W. King St.), St. Augustine, FL, with V. Rev. Fr. Maximos Politis officiating; Makaria immediately following at the church hall. Interment will be in accordance with her wishes in the family tomb at St. Theodore Cemetery in her village in Greece.

Susana G. Kugeares

January 23, 1932 - August 18, 2023