Obituary of Euthalia M. Karlos

Euthalia M. Karlos Affable -- Dedicated -- Generous Euthalia M. Karlos, Thalia to friends, died suddenly at home in Dover, NJ at the age of 77 on Saturday. She was the fourth of five children of the late Milton D. Karlos and the late Eftichia Karlos (Petsas), both originally of Andros, Greece. She is survived by her brother Dimitrios M. Karlos (Mary Oikonomopoulos) of Athens, Greece, was pre-deceased by her brother Leonardos M. Karlos (the late Theologia Paravalos), is survived by her sister Katherine M. Karlos, recently of New York City & now of Dover, NJ, her sister Asimina K. Demakes (the late Christos P. Demakes) of Cincinnati, OH, numerous cousins, nieces & nephews, and multitudes of friends & communities who considered her family. Born and raised in Salem, NJ, as a freshman she played goalie for Salem High's State Championship girl's field hockey team; grinning, she'd admit she never faced a shot. A graduate of Trenton State Teacher's College, she found her first job in Morris County and made it her home. She served three and a half decades as a teacher at Randolph High School, first teaching World History (in which she would later earn a Master's Degree), then adding AP Economics to her resume. She delighted in recounting how teaching Economics to her teenaged students gave them something they could talk with their parents about. She took pleasure in working stage crew for student & faculty theatrical productions and supporting the wrestling team. And Labor Studies? Thalia didn't study labor, she practiced it. She repeatedly served as a local and Morris County delegate to both State and National Education Association conventions, and was not above walking a strike line on a bitterly-cold morning or driving a fair bargain at the negotiating table in the wee hours of the night. Thalia also served as an informal adviser, giving her time to explain rights, rules & benefits to fellow teachers and retired teachers who were referred to her. Thalia garnered honors from: NJEA-NJREA, the Randolph Board of Education, the Randolph Education Association, the NJ Dept. of Education Governor's Teacher Recognition Program, the Morris County Council of Education Associations, the Academic Decathlon of NJ, and others; all humbly tucked away in drawers, out of sight. Thalia loved to travel, and in her younger days indulged her interest in archeology by spending her summers on digs abroad. She retired from teaching in 1997. Retirement? What's retirement?! In a second career, Thalia found purpose in serving St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Randolph in multiple capacities: Recording Secretary of the Parish Council, Stewardship Committee, St. Irene's Philoptochos Society, Greek School Education Committee, Scholarship Committee, Agape Senior Group, Daughters of Penelope, Manager of the perpetual honor-system bake sale (Bakaliko), sitting in for the Parish Secretary, and whatever else needed doing. She lent her practical knowledge of finance to the Building Committee for the Parish's Community Center. At last month's Parish festival, she answered a phone call from a carload of visitors from the shore communities who'd lost their way, gave them precise directions (gleaned from her cartographer-caliber knowledge of Morris County back-roads and byways) and walked out the door to greet them with a broad smile and a "Hi ya!" when they quickly arrived. For all her service to the Church, she was honored by His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos whose diocese encompasses New Jersey south thru Virginia; that honor also tucked away. She was also an active member of the Kiwanis Club in Randolph and served on the Board of Trustees of the Dover Free Public Library. Not only liberal with her time, Thalia made annual monetary contributions to her Church, local Police & Fire Depts., numerous national charities (including the World Wildlife Fund), and individuals & organizations (both here & abroad) whose need came to her attention. She loved to crack a crossword puzzle (especially The New York Times's) and wouldn't skip Jeopardy! unless someone needed her help. Missed. The Viewing for Thalia will be held Thursday from 4 to 8 pm at the Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 Route 10, Randolph, NJ, 07869 (www.tuttlefh.com); and her funeral will be held Friday at 11:00 AM at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, 1447 Sussex Turnpike, Randolph, NJ, 07869 (www.standrewgonj.org). In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations be made to St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, or a charity of the donor's choice.