Maria Eleni Coukos, age 42, died peacefully November 25, 2004 at her home with family and friends, after a courageous battle with head and neck cancer.

 

Maria, born in Charlottesville on September 18, 1962, was the first born child of Steven Harry and Dianne Coukos.

 

She graduated from Albermarle High School in 1980 and from Mary Washington College in 1984, after which she moved to the Richmond area to begin her career.

 

Maria is survived by a loving family, her mother, Dianne Bambacus Coukos of Richmond, Va.; her sister, Dr. Eleni Coukos-Semmel of Delray Beach, Fla.; her sister, Stephanie Coukos Burgess; and nephew, Steven Hunter Burgess (age 8) of Richmond, Va.; and her brother, Harry Steven Coukos of Pittsburgh, Pa. Maria was preceded in death by her father, Steven H. Coukos.

 

She leaves behind a group of truly genuine and devoted friends who supported her throughout her sickness and prayed for her daily.

 

The Coukos family sincerely appreciates the personal, loving care and individualized attention provided through the Medical College of Virginia (MCV); specifically by the MCV Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the MCV Dalton Clinic and the MCV Massey Cancer Center.

 

The family wishes to thank the distinguished law firm of LeClair Ryan for the unconditional support they extended during Maria's final struggle.

 

Per Maria's request to be at home during her final days, the Coukos family wants to recognize the "angels" of Bon Secours Hospice for their medical care and continuous emotional and spiritual support.

 

The family received friends at the Bliley Funeral Homes' Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Road, on Friday, November 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., and there was a Trisagion prayer service at 6:30 p.m.

 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 27, 10 a.m., at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

 

She will be buried, as she requested, in Charlottesville's Riverview Cemetery, 1 p.m. Saturday, next to the father she adored.

 

In lieu of flowers, Maria had requested that contributions be made to Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral Endowment Fund, 30 Malvern Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23221.