Margie S. Smyrnes (nee Stoupis)

Strifflers Family Funeral Homes

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | May 06, 2017

Margie S. Smyrnes (nee Stoupis) passed away on Friday, May 5, 2017 from congestive heart failure, surrounded by family and friends. It would have been her 71st wedding anniversary.

Margie, born in Cleveland, OH on December 5, 1926, was the daughter of Koula Logaras Stoupis and George Stoupis of McKeesport. Her beloved younger brother, Manuel G. Stoupis predeceased her in September 2014.

She was the co-owner, from 1956 to 1989, of the former Flair Cleaners and Home Laundry in White Oak, PA with the love of her life and partner in marriage and business, Michael V. (Mike) Smyrnes who predeceased her in October 2015.

She married her high school sweetheart on May 5, 1946 after graduating co-valedictorian and year book editor of her McKeesport High School class of 1945.  Her first job was an executive secretary for the GC Murphy company.

After World War II, Margie and Mike had several business adventures as partners in Paterson NJ, New York City and Canton, OH before moving back to McKeesport and North Huntington, PA.

Always active in the church, Margie was a former choir director of the Greek Church of the Annunciation when it was located in McKeesport. After the parish moved to White Oak in 1966, she was active in the McKeesport International Villiage with her church and was President of its Philoptochos for several years.

As President of the Ridge Road Women’s Club, she spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the purchase of the first modern ambulance for Rescue 8 paramedics in North Huntington.

Margie, despite her full-time work as a business woman, always had time for whoever needed help. She had boundless energy, tenacity, wit, intelligence and sage advice. Her math skills were legendary. Margie was also a Girl Scout troop leader for 10 years.

She enjoyed flying with her husband in his Cessna airplane, sewing, gardening, music, and reading articles on medical research and finance. She was also a good Canasta player.

She is survived by daughters, Peggy (Dr. Karl Williams) Smyrnes-Williams of Squirrel Hill; Kathleen S. (Eric) White of Bradford Woods; and grandson, Michael E.C.  Williams of Pittsburgh; and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will be sorely missed by all who loved her.

In addition to her beloved husband, daughters and their husbands, her absolute joy was her grandson, Michael E.C.  Williams. She taught him to play checkers, card and math games and the video game Zelda.

Friends will be received at Striffler’s of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177) on Monday May 8th from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm, Trisagion at 7:00 pm. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday May 9th, 10:00 am at the Greek Church of the Annunciation in White Oak with visitation 1 hour prior to service at church. Funeral Services will be co-officiated by Father William Zotis and Father Christopher Bender. Entombment will follow in the Lebanon Chapel Mausoleum.

Remembrances in Margie’s name may be made to the Eye and Ear Research Foundation of the University of Pittsburgh, the Philoptochos of McKeesport, or the American College of Lakota Sioux.

Margie S. Smyrnes (nee Stoupis) passed away on Friday, May 5, 2017 from congestive heart failure, surrounded by family and friends. It would have been her 71st wedding anniversary.

Margie, born in Cleveland, OH on December 5, 1926, was the daughter of Koula Logaras Stoupis and George Stoupis of McKeesport. Her beloved younger brother, Manuel G. Stoupis predeceased her in April 2015.

She was the co-owner, from 1956 to 1989, of the former Flair Cleaners and Home Laundry in White Oak, PA with the love of her life and partner in marriage and business, Michael V. (Mike) Smyrnes who predeceased her in October 2015.

She married her high school sweetheart on May 5, 1946 after graduating co-valedictorian and year book editor of her McKeesport High School class of 1945.  Her first job was an executive secretary for the GC Murphy company.

After World War II, Margie and Mike had several business adventures as partners in Paterson NJ, New York City and Canton, OH before moving back to McKeesport and North Huntington, PA.

Always active in the church, Margie was a former choir director of the Greek Church of the Annunciation when it was located in McKeesport. After the parish moved to White Oak in 1966, she was active in the McKeesport International Villiage with her church and was President of its Philoptochos for several years.

As President of the Ridge Road Women’s Club, she spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the purchase of the first modern ambulance for Rescue 8 paramedics in North Huntington.

Margie, despite her full-time work as a business woman, always had time for whoever needed help. She had boundless energy, tenacity, wit, intelligence and sage advice. Her math skills were legendary. Margie was also a Girl Scout troop leader for 10 years.

She enjoyed flying with her husband in his Cessna airplane, sewing, gardening, music, and reading articles on medical research and finance. She was also a good Canasta player.

She is survived by daughters, Peggy (Dr. Karl Williams) Smyrnes-Williams of Squirrel Hill; Kathleen S. (Eric) White of Bradford Woods; and grandson, Michael E.C.  Williams of Pittsburgh; and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will be sorely missed by all who loved her.

In addition to her beloved husband, daughters and their husbands, her absolute joy was her grandson, Michael E.C.  Williams. She taught him to play checkers, card and math games and the video game Zelda.

Friends will be received at Striffler’s of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177) on Monday May 8th from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm, Trisagion at 7:00 pm. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday May 9th, 10:00 am at the Greek Church of the Annunciation in White Oak with visitation 1 hour prior to service at church. Funeral Services will be co-officiated by Father William Zotis and Father Christopher Bender. Entombment will follow in the Lebanon Chapel Mausoleum.

Remembrances in Margie’s name may be made to the Eye and Ear Research Foundation of the University of Pittsburgh, the Philoptochos of McKeesport, or the American College of Lakota Sioux.

Originally published May 06, 2017.

Other deaths:
"William Hobaugh" || "Phyllis J. Herrera"