Article published January 23, 2009
ANGELA STYLIANIDES, 1949-2009
Co-owner of downtown Coney Island aided hospital
Angela Stylianides, 59, co-owner with her husband, Frixos, of Coney Island Hot Dog, a downtown family business for 90 years, who vacationed at ocean islands that reminded her of Cyprus, died Monday in Toledo Hospital of kidney and liver failure.
She developed complications after heart valve surgery earlier this month, said Costas Christides, a cousin of her husband.
She was an executive secretary for J.C. Penney Co. Inc. in New York City in 1978 when she went to a Christmas party for people of Greek Cypriot heritage. Mr. Stylianides was visiting the city and happened to be at the party.
"When she met Frixos, he stole her heart. It was less than a year later they got married," said Mr. Christides, who was best man at the wedding.
The couple stayed in New York for about a year. Their move to Toledo was prompted by Mr. Christides, who was helping his grandfather, Sofokles Constantine - known to all as Uncle Gus and the founder - at the restaurant on North Superior Street.
Mr. Christides left the business not long after; Mr. Stylianides worked side by side with Mr. Constantine, who really was his uncle. The couple became co-owners of the downtown mainstay after Mr. Constantine's death in 1985."She was vice president, taking care of the paperwork mostly," Mr. Christides said.
For several years, she helped regularly at noontime. Later, she filled in when needed. Customers knew her, and she continued to visit at least once a week.
"She loved the family. She was part of us all the way," Mr. Christides said.
She grew up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York. Her parents were from Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean, and she was 12 when she first visited.
"She loved the climate and the ocean," Mr. Christides said.
Drawn to spots that reminded her of Cyprus, she as an adult visited such ocean islands as Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Hawaii.
She oversaw the design of the couple's Sylvania Township home and took charge of the interior decoration after it was built. She spent several afternoons each year decorating for Christmas.
"She really went out of her way," Mr. Christides said.
She was a volunteer at Flower Hospital. "She was a very beautiful person. … She was really beautiful inside," Mr. Christides said. "She wanted to see everybody be happy."
Surviving are her husband, Frixos Stylianides, whom she married Aug. 19, 1979, and mother, Fostira Pappas.
Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Arrangements are by the Ansberg-West Funeral Home. The family suggests tributes to the cathedral.
Permanent Link
|
|
 |
|
Search
advertisement
