- Date Of Birth: July 6, 1912
- Date Of Death: September 20, 2005
- State: Indiana
Joan N. Thanos, 93, of Signal Point Drive, Niles, Michigan, passed away at home on Tuesday September 20, 2005, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was born in Greece, on July 6, 1912, the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Burzoukas and came to the United States in the early 1930’s. After a brief stay in New York City, she met and married James N. Thanos, her husband of 45 years, who preceded her in death on April 7, 1982.
In the early 1940’s, they moved to South Bend, where they operated Smitty’s Hamburger Shop for 40 years. They raised two loving sons, Nicholas J. and Gus S. Thanos. She was a member of St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, South Bend, and was very involved in its programs, particularly the Good Samaritans and The Daughters of Penelope. Joan is survived by her two sons, four granddaughters, Cleone Haynes, Tracey Thanos-Muellner, Nikki Thanos and Jami Thanos. She loved her four great-grandchildren, Collin and Caroline Hickey, Shiloh Thanos-Young, and Macy Muellner. She is also survived by seven nieces, Elizabeth McNulty, Katina Sherman , Vivian Sellers, Angie Sheneman, Lilly Bryan, Cleo Martino, and Andrianna Colyvas-West. She was preceded in death by her sister, Cleopatra Christos and her brother, Gus Burgess, a nephew, Christy Christos, and an infant daughter, Paulina Thanos. Her smile and Greek pastries will be missed by all of her friends and loved ones! She will also be deeply missed by her three caregivers, Midge Jacobs, Lisha Clayton and Barbara Hassellbring.
