Maria was born on the island of Leros in Greece to Eirini Stamos and Ioannis Kapaniris. She was the first of 4 children.
In her early twenties she married Mihalis Tiliacos in neighbouring Kalymnos at the church of St. George. Very soon after, they left Greece for The Bahamas where Mihali had already been living and working.
They were blessed with 4 beautiful children, John, Irene, Euthokia and Constantino. They suddenly and tragically lost their youngest child, Constantino, when he was only 16 ½.
Maria then lost her husband almost 7 years later.
Suddenly, she found herself having to work and continued to run the small shoe store Mihali left behind for the next 15 years. At that time, she decided to leave the small island she and her family calls home and came to Florida to live with Irene and Chris in New Port Richey.
She leaves behind 3 of her loving children, 4 beautiful grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, each of whom she was always proud of.
Her favourite saint is St. John the Russian. His Holy Relics are located in the church and monastery in his name in Prokopi, Evia, Greece. Maria traveled there twice to venerate his Holy Relics.
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
East Elfers Cemetery
Maria Chisnall
May 4, 2025, 1:16 am
Maria was loved by our whole family and we spent many happy times together in our younger days. She loved to come to our seaside farm to swim, pick grape vine leaves and she delighted our children with her famous and unique spanakopita. Her move to Florida was a great loss to my mother, Caliope Simeon Maillis, who counted Maria as one of her dearest friends. Maria was a brave, hardworking, woman , devoted to her family and friends. She gave of her time and talents generously and was a valued member of our Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church parish in Nassau. May her memory be eternal and may her children, grandchildren and all of us who loved her, be comforted by our God who loves us all.