Angeline “Angie” Chaconas
Angeline “Angie” Chaconas, nee Vavoularis (Lares), age 86, went to sleep with our Lord on Monday, February 8, 2021, peacefully at home. Angie was born in the town of Magoula, Sparta, Greece. She immigrated to Harvard, Illinois in 1951 with her family. Within a few years, her brother’s best friend, Gus, left Greece and reconnected with Angie’s family. Gus and Angie married and built a wonderful life together, filled with love, happiness, and a beautiful family. In the early 1970’s Angie and Gus transplanted their business from Chicago to set down roots in the Clearwater, Florida area. After reviving the Dunedin Grill, Angie’s restaurant, in the heart of downtown Clearwater was born. Never forgetting the hunger and anguish she endured as a child in war torn Greece, Angie ensured that all who entered were well fed and taken care of. She greeted everyone who came in with a welcoming smile. In 2008, the St. Petersburg Times featured this tenacious woman, who had postponed her mastectomy to serve others, in their Thanksgiving Day issue. The following year, Angie opened “Angie’s Grill” to provide more jobs for the area. Even in retirement, until as recently as 2019, Angie would sit near the door of her then son’s “Angie’s Restaurant,” and greet and direct guests.

Angie touched and changed the landscape, both in a physical and spiritual manner. Angie was recognized as a philanthropist in the community. In 2009 a Special Humanitarian Award was bestowed upon her by the Clearwater Downtown Partnership. She was always willing to lend a helping hand, she fed the hungry and provided shelter to those in need. Her home was always open. Angie’s children are proud to have been raised over the years in a home where several relatives and others resided on their road to independence. They too, have been known to follow Angie’s example of service to others.

Though Angie was only afforded a formal education through the 6th grade in her youth, she found books on business strategies quenched her thirst for knowledge. She was known to have followed the “Think like a Man, Act Like a Lady, Work Like a Dog” mindset. Angie worked her way through the requirements of earning her Florida Real Estate license in the 1970s. While showing homes she noted ways their natural views could be featured. Angie was the founding owner of Arista Custom Homes. She developed real estate and creatively designed beautiful homes. Angie helped people realize their lifelong dream of home ownership. While raising a family and working hard, Angie found time to be a proud member of several social and service organizations, including Philoptochos of Holy Trinity, Daughters of Penelope and had served as Supreme Secretary of the Pan-Laconian Federation of U.S.A. and Canada.

Angie was truly an entrepreneur and a selfless philanthropist. Angie lived her Greek Orthodox faith daily. Angie was a proud and loving wife, mother, yiayia, aunt, cousin and friend. Angie’s empathy stemmed from her Hellenic culture and faith, always aspiring to represent the true meaning of the word “Filotimo!”

Angie is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Constantinos “Gus” Chaconas, her siblings Stelios (Georgia) Vavoularis, Georgia (Kostas) Tsarouhis, George Vavoularis, Paul Lares, her brother-in-law, Thanasis Tsakonas, her dear grandson, Gus Chaconas, and great grand-daughter, Samantha Steele.

Angie is survived by her devoted children, Georgia (Jimmy) Madalvanos, Nicholas Chaconas, and Louis (Nicole) Chaconas. Her beautiful grandchildren, Anthi and Gerasimos, Constantine, Demetra (Eric), Elias, Zoe and great-grandchildren Brian and Tisa, will live their lives in a way to make their yiayia Angie proud. Angie was a loving sister to Dan Lares and Peter (Emily) Lares, and loving sister-in-law to Leonidas (Eleni) Tsakonas, Potoula (George) Lambros, and Helen (Louis G.) Atsaves. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends from the Tampa Bay Area, Chicago and across the globe.

Due to the pandemic and putting safety and health first, the viewing and funeral service will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that your donations be made, in memory of Angeline Chaconas, to The Capital Campaign Fund, or The Holy Trinity Iconography Campaign, c/o Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Clearwater, Florida.