Mary Fronimos Kourianos, devoted mother, “Yia Yia,” aunt, friend, neighbor, and servant to the Lord, passed away peacefully in her home at age 96 on December 19, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.
Mary was born June 26, 1925, in Hiawatha, Utah, to Nicholas Fronimos and Eleni Salevurakis Fronimos. When she was six months old, her family moved back to Gavalachori, Crete, Greece, where she grew up with her sister, Stella, until the young age of 22 when she made the long journey back to the United States on her own to provide a better life for her family. She made her way to New York, California and finally to Price, Utah, where she married her husband of nearly 50 years, Emmanuel “Mike” Kourianos, on June 12, 1949. Mary and Mike shared three children, Tony, Helen and Michael, who treasured and served their mom faithfully until the very end.
Mary was a remarkable, intelligent, kind and selfless person, which was apparent to all she came across. After diligently teaching herself to read and write in English, she worked for years at Price Steam Laundry, Koret of California, and Safeway, creating life-long friendships along the way. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy, and her passion and love for her church and her friends and family across the Greek community were unmatched. She served for years in the Philoptochos Society and could often be found cooking traditional Greek food, gardening, hosting holiday dinners, shopping for a good deal, going for daily walks and coffee with her friends or working tirelessly to help put on the annual Price Greek Festival, which she did well into her nineties. Mary was the definition of elegance and grace. She had the ability to make everyone she met feel special and loved and was considered “Yia Yia” to many lucky enough to know her.
Mary is survived by her children: Tony (Debbie) Kourianos of Price, UT, Helen Kourianos Spears of Eugene, OR, and Michael (Kelly) Kourianos of Price, UT; grandchildren: Christina Kourianos, Danny (Stephanie) Kourianos, Jeff (Rachel) Spears, Jami Spears, Katie (Derek Bracken) Kourianos, Nicki Chidester, Steven (Janelle) Chidester; great-grandchildren: Zoey, Alexander, Nicholas Kourianos, soon-to-be baby girl Bracken, Saylor and Violet Chidester, Jaxon and Makenzie Wagner. She also leaves behind many special nieces and nephews and countless friends and loved ones.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Mike; her sister, Stella Hiotakis, and several sisters and brothers-in-law she cared for very much.
Funeral service, Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 11:00 a.m., at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Price. Trisagion service, Tuesday evening, December 21, 2021, 7:00 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home. Family will receive friends at Mitchell Funeral Home Tuesday and Wednesday one hour prior to services. Committal, Price City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends and family may sign the guest book and share memories of Mary at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.