Obituary of Helen Chioles
Age 94, late of Gainesville, GA, and a former lifetime Joliet resident, went home peacefully to be with her Savior surrounded by her loving family.
She is survived by daughters Janis (Kevin) O’Malley of Naples Fl. and Denise (Mark) Vershay of Gainesville Ga. Loving Yiayia to James O’Malley (Diana), Ryan (April Liz) O’Malley, Taylor Vershay, Morgan (Alexander) Jines. Great Yiayia of Olivia and Grace O’Malley. Also surviving is her brother Jack (Judy) Griparis, sister-in-law Carolyn Griparis, and many, many loved nieces, nephews, and all in her big, great, Greek family.
Preceded in death by her husband, James Chioles, her parents, and her siblings, Sophia (John) Kontos, Andrew Griparis, Mary (Pete) Honiotes, Mimi (Fred) Howland, Penny (John) Obren, and Jim Griparis.
Helen and Jim owned the Skylark Restaurant in Joliet for almost 20 years, where customers were treated as family. Prior to the Skylark, they opened the Red Wheel and Skelly Truckstop restaurants in Joliet.
An active member of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, Helen sang in the choir for 65 years before moving to Georgia. Helen has been a lifelong member of the Three Hierarchs Philoptochos Society and Daughters of Penelope. She also taught Sunday School to generations of children. Helen was part of church festivals and made the best coffee for Sunday fellowship hours. She enjoyed her time visiting the parish shut ins. In 2021, Helen was honored and humbled as one of the first recipients of the Greek Orthodox Diocese Metropolis Bronze Cross which recognized her tireless servant leadership to the church.
She spent years preparing and serving meals as community outreach for the Morning Star Mission, a member of St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary, and touched the lives of many children at Wesmere Elementary School.
Helen’s children remember her as sacrificial, loving, wise and present in the moment. She thrived in her Yiayia role to her adored grandchildren who truly were her greatest joys. She prayed for her family faithfully her entire life. She had an incredible love for people and greeted others with such warmth; all felt heard, seen, and valued after spending any amount of time with her.
Helen’s legacy, however, will be her lifetime devotion to her family and her strong faith. Helen was the biggest supporter to all in her life. She remembered every date, every story, and every person and loved sharing her memories. She consistently encouraged and professed how special her family was to her. Her joy, faith, and unconditional love will be greatly missed.
Visitation for Helen Chioles will be Monday, Dec. 18th from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with Trisagion services at 6:00 pm at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black (at Essington)Rd., Joliet
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 19th at 9:15 am from the funeral home to All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, 102 N. Broadway St, Joliet for services at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Endowment fund, Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, Georgia and Northeast Georgia Hospice Care.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500, or to leave an online condolence, visit her Memorial Tribute page at www.fredcdames.com.
