Catherine Alatsis – Monessen

And God opened his arms and took a lovely woman up as Catherine Alatsis passed at 8:31 a.m. on July 22, 2022, two days shy of her 93rd birthday (July 24, 1929), while surrounded by her daughters, Jan (Nino) Forlini and Nikki (Paul) Mornak. “Yia-Yia,” as she was affectionately called, is survived by five grandchildren, Tina (Yanni Monahan) Mornak, Matt (Kailey Chipps) Mornak, Kelly (John) Kolodziej, Nick (Ashley) Forlini and Nina (Michael Richard) Forlini; and great-grandchildren, Nicholas Putila and Jordyn Kolodziej. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Kalioppi Apodiakos and numerous nieces and nephews. She worked at Brookvale Manufacturing Co. for 25 years as a seamstress, only to start work for the church auxiliary for another 30 years. Her time consisted of helping her parish, St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, go on to win the St. Photio Award, a prestigious award for the excellence of church service. Her hobbies included baking, gardening and solving crossword puzzles. She was an outstanding cook. She could be found annually working the Loukourmades booth at the Greek Festival, thus becoming a family tradition. In speaking of traditions, she carried on the Greek traditions, teaching them proudly to her family. She will join her loving husband, Nicholas Alatsis; and her siblings, John (Roanne) Apodiakos, Theodore Apodiakos, Bill (Kelly) Apodiakos and Lemona Sfakiakos, in God’s Kingdom. She was also preceded in death by brother-in-law, Ted (Barb) Alatsis; and sister-in-law, Julie. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to RHOME FUNERAL HOME INC., 1209 Grand Blvd., Monessen, where friends will be welcomed from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2022. The funeral will be formed at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of Monessen, and an 11 a.m. funeral service will begin. Interment will follow at the Belle Vernon Cemetery.