Mildred (Xiarhos) Jorden, 88, of North Dartmouth died June 23, 2018 at Autumn Glen
after a brief illness. She was the widow of the late William J. Jorden, the sister of the late George Xiarhos, a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, and an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan.
Born and raised in New Bedford, Mili was the daughter of the late Efstratios and Kyriaki (Gaitanaros) Xiarhos. After graduating from New Bedford High School, she soon showed the drive and grit that was to characterize her for the rest of her life. She moved to Washington, D.C, attended courses at George Washington University, and found employment with the United States Information Agency (USIA), with postings as varied as West Germany, Mexico, Lebanon, and France. Among Mili’s many talents was an unusual aptitude for foreign languages, resulting in near fluency in French and Spanish, in addition to her native Greek and English. Mili became a homemaker and tireless volunteer to a number of community organizations after her marriage to Bill Jorden, but her background at USIA proved particularly useful when she became a highly effective ambassador’s wife in Panama in the mid-1970’s, a time when that role was more than ceremonial. After retirement, Bill and Mili lived in Austin, Texas and McLean, Virginia before their final move to Autumn Glen in 2007. In addition to being a devoted wife to Bill, Mili was a loving and supportive mother and grandmother to two generations of Jordens, all of whom will always love her for it.
Survivors include her stepchildren, Temple Jorden and his wife Ise of Somerville, Eleanor Tabi Haller-Jorden of Zurich, Switzerland, and Marion Telva Jorden and her husband Charles Zanazzi of Andover; six grandchildren, Sei Jorden, Juerg and George Haller, and Jorden, Emma, and Jake Zanazzi; and two nieces, Carolyn X. Bishop and Patricia Verronneau, who was also her caregiver, and a nephew, Steven Xiarhos.
Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 186 Cross Rd., Dartmouth. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For and online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.