Mrs. Ann (Tzanetakos) Chicklis, teacher, sister, wife, mother, writer, Girl Scout, clarinetist, beloved grandmother and lover of life, died peacefully at home after a long illness on Saturday, April 18.
Ann was born on December 20, 1923 in Lowell, MA, the eldest child of the late Peter and Mary (Sotakos) Tzanetakos of Greece and was the wife of the late Theodore (Ted) Chicklis for 48 years.
She entered public school at the age of 8, speaking only Greek. However, she excelled in school and in fact, went on to edit award-winning school and club newspapers throughout her high school and college years. She graduated first in her class from Lowell High School and Summa Cum Laude from Salem State Teachers College, and earned her Master’s in Education from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. when she was in her late 40’s as a true pioneer in the life-long learning movement.
Ann married Ted Chicklis in Lowell in 1950. They had three children and lived in New York, Colorado, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., and Chelmsford, MA. Mrs. Chicklis began her career teaching college level business courses, then taught at the high school and middle school levels, and completed her career passionately teaching her beloved first graders in the Chelmsford public school system. Ann and Ted enjoyed their retirement, traveling to Greece and their winter retreat in Desert Palm Springs, and visiting their children and friends, always returning to their many home improvement projects in Chelmsford.
Ann was a lifelong member of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, where her father was Sexton and uncle was Choir Director, each for well over 50 years. She was also an active member of numerous other Greek-American, educational, youth and arts-related societies and organizations. Her recent years were filled with writing about and enjoying life, her large family, dear friends, and her favorite Victoria.
Mrs. Chicklis is survived by her son, Dexter of Westfield, MA; daughter Pamela and husband Christopher Scott and granddaughter Victoria Theodora Scott of Edgartown, MA; daughter Marianthi (May) of Amesbury, MA; her sister Theone Cote of Quakertown, PA; her brother George Tzanetakos of North Chelmsford, MA; her brother-in-law Larry Chiklis of California; sister-in-law Penelope Chicklis of Greece; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, koumbari, godchildren, and many loyal students and pals throughout the Lowell area, the U.S. and Greece.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her aunt Mary Tzanetakos (Tavalaros) Davis, her aunt and uncle Julia and Nick Tzanetakos, her sister Demetra (Demy) Gletzakos, many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, other family members and beloved pets.
Relatives and friends will be received at the M. R. LAURIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 295 Pawtucket St., Lowell on Thursday April 23, from 5 to 8 pm. Her funeral will take place from the Funeral Home on Friday at 11:00 am with a funeral service to be held at the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell at 12 noon. Interment will follow in Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Western Massachusetts Hospital Neuromuscular Unit, 91 East Mountain Road - South 2, Westfield, MA 01085, as well as the Greek-American Legion, 228 Worthen Street, Lowell, MA 01852.