Cleoniki (Apostolidis) Menas

August 14 th , 1932 – February 18 th , 2022

San Diego, CA – Cleoniki Apostolidis was born on August 14 th , 1932, in Gary, IN to the late Anthony and Melpomene Apostolidis and passed away peacefully at the Ridgeview Gardens care facility in the Poway area of San Diego of natural causes on February 18 th , 2022, at the age of 89.  She was the middle of 3 children.  Her father Anthony passed away when she was young leaving behind her mother, older brother Ted, and herself. Later, her mother remarried to James Pantell who became another father to her and also blessed her with younger brother Nick.  She was certainly part of the "Greatest Generation."

Growing up, her family was very proud of their Greek heritage. She and her siblings had to attend Greek school after American school so Cleo became fluent in Greek as well as English.  In the latter part of her childhood years, the family moved to Youngstown, Ohio where they became entrenched in the Greek community there.

After WWII was over and through the Greek community, Cleo met and eventually married John Menas on July 4 th , 1954, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Youngstown, OH.  John passed away in June of 2020, just 3 weeks shy of their 66 th wedding anniversary.  From Youngstown, they moved to East Pittsburgh, PA where they had 3 children and eventually moved the family to San Diego where Cleo's family settled after the war.

Continuing in their Greek heritage, John and Cleo were founding members of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in Cardiff, CA.  Cleo served on the church's Philoptochos (charitable) Society and Pistis Circle for many years and worked tirelessly at the church's food and dance festivals for almost 40 years.

Cleo retired from the accounting field at the age of 65 but never slowed down.  She took the most pride in her family, especially being a Yia Yia, her church, her home, and receiving praises from her Greek specialties of baklava, spanakopita and koulourakia!

Surviving members of her family include daughters Melanie Dickson (Alan) and Estelle Stone (Kent), son Mark Menas (Susie), 6 grandchildren, Danielle, Joseph, Mark (Laura), Luke, John, and Alex and great grandson Fenton.  Also, she leaves behind 2 sisters-in-law, Bette Menas of North Versailles, PA and Bente Pantell of Boise, ID, along with many nieces and nephews.

All services will be held on Monday, February 28 th at Sts. Constantine and Helen GOC in Cardiff, CA.  Viewing will be at 9:00 A.M., Trisaigon will be held at 9:45 A.M., and the funeral service will begin at 10:00 A.M.  Makaria luncheon will be served from 11:00 A.M. to 12:45 A.M. with interment at Dearborn Memorial Park in Poway, CA immediately following.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff, CA  92007 in Cleo's name.

The family would like to thank Ridgeview Gardens and Kindred Hospice for their endless care and compassion.  Cleo will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved her.