Obituary of Rev. Father Stephen Bithos

After 69 years on this earth, Father Steve fell asleep in the Lord Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center.

Father was born in San Francisco, CA and was raised in Oak Lawn, IL.  He was a graduate of UIC with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, he continued to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and graduated with his Masters in Divinity.  While attending Holy Cross he met the love of his life Pearlann and they were married in June of 1982.  Father Stephen was ordained to the Holy Deaconate on April 3, 1983, by his Grace Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on June 26, 1983, by his then Grace Bishop Iakovos of Chicago, of blessed memory. In his early ministry he served as an assistant at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, followed by St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago, then St. Iakovos in Valparaiso, IN, as the Parish Priest.  At the conclusion of that assignment, he began his nearly 30 year life ministry at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Joliet.  In March of 2020, he returned to his home parish at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn until his untimely passing.

He is preceded by his parents Rev. Constantine and Vee (nee Stoyas) Bithos; his Father-in-law, George Nastav and his mother-in-law, Angeline (nee Anton) Nastav, and second mother-in-law, Kathren (nee Haralambos) Nastav; in addition to numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Father Stephen is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Presvytera Pearlann Bithos; his two daughters, Angeline Paraskevi Bithos of Joliet and Kathryn Christine (John) Schieber of Chicago; devoted Pappou of three, Cecilia, Daphne and Leo Stephen Schieber; his sister, Denise Bithos of San Diego, CA; brother-in-law, Joseph (Alexandria) Nastav of Tucson, AZ; sister-in-law, Rose (Stephen) Stucker of Albuquerque, NM; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren also survive.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2024 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. with Trisagion Services at 7:00 p.m. at his home parish, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. 

Funeral Services for Rev. Father Stephen Bithos will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 10301 S.  Kolmar Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL, 60453, at 8:30 a.m. Orthros, followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. with Funeral Services at 11:00 a.m., presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. Private Interment.

In Lieu of Flowers, Memorial Donations in his memory to his surviving family would be appreciated and be sent to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home.

For more information, please call 815-741-5500, or to leave an online condolence, visit his Memorial Tribute page at www.fredcdames.com.