Konstantina Bouzis

Konstantina "Dena" Marion Bouzis passed away unexpectedly on 4 July 2013. In our loss, she has found her peace. May her memory be eternal. Dena was born on 31 October 1935 in Molaoi, Lakonia, Greece, the eldest of four children of Vasilios and Florentia Panagakos. She grew up in an era of economic hardship, foreign occupation, and civil war in her native country. But the memories she most often shared of her childhood were those of summers spent in her family's summer home just kilometers from the sea, sleeping outside on hot, star-filled summer nights, the melody of the cicadas and the scent of fresh olive, walnut, almond, grape, and fig trees her companions, conspiring with her three younger siblings on how to escape chores the following day, and dreaming of what the future might hold. Of happy days spent outside, playing with all the neighborhood children until late into the evening. Of close-knit family and community life spent around the dinner table and in the village central square. Dena moved to Athens, Greece in 1964 in order to begin a career, working first for the Ministry of Interior and subsequently for the Greek National Insurance Company. While living and working in Athens, Dena met and fell in love with Marion John Bouzis of Casper, Wyoming, who was for the first time visiting relatives in his parents' homeland. Dena first put off this Greek-American who, in her opinion, seemed to spend far too much money purchasing unnecessary tubes of toothpaste in his efforts to meet her while shopping at the "bakaliko," or convenience store, across from her apartment. In the end, his efforts and money paid off, and the two married in Athens on 19 November 1966, just a few months after meeting. Following a honeymoon in Crete, they came to Casper days before Christmas in 1966 and made their home. Dena became a United States citizen on 20 September 1971. Over time, Dena came to love her adopted home and country, but the land of her birth stayed close in her thoughts and heart. Having arrived in the United States with no prior knowledge of English, Dena remained undaunted and was diligent in her efforts to learn the language, including through sessions with tutors and classes at Casper College. But Dena was also mindful of the importance of teaching her two daughters about their rich heritage, conveying to them a love for Greece's culture and history. She was most proud of her efforts (often involving bribery with ice cream) to teach them the Greek language. For a time, she even broadened her efforts to teaching Greek classes to the other kids in the Greek Orthodox church in Casper. Dena was devoted to her Orthodox Christian faith and active in her church, baking for fund raisers and the church's annual name day celebration throughout the years and singing every Sunday in the church choir. In between raising her daughters, she found time to work intermittently at various part time jobs and to volunteer periodically at the Natrona County Library and the hospital. But by far her favorite pastimes included tending her beautiful, beloved rose garden; nurturing her two daughters; cooking; talking on the phone to family and friends in Greece, Canada, and throughout the United States; reading books in her native Greek and adopted English; and caring for her dog, Yasou. Survivors include her daughter Maria Marion Bouzis of Gillette, Wyoming; daughter Evangelia Marion Bouzis and husband Kent Brendon Hallberg of McLean, Virginia; stepson Dr. John Lee Bouzis of Casper; step-daughter Vickie Lynn and husband Dick McCarty of Maui, Hawaii; granddaughter Traci Lynn, husband Shawn, and great granddaughter Morgan Williams of Fort Collins, Colorado; grandson Dr. Shawn Lee Bouzis of Bismarck, North Dakota; granddaughter Dr. Ashley Rae and husband Kevin Sholes of Seattle, Washington; sister Margarita "Rita" Kapetanakis of Athens, Greece; brother Konstantinos "Kostas" Panagakos of Molaoi, Lakonia, Greece; brother Spiros Panagakos of Pakia, Lakonia, Greece; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in Greece, the United States, and Canada. Dena was preceded in death by her husband, Marion, in 2007; her father, Vasilios, in 1994; her mother, Florentia, in 2002; and her step-daughter-in-law, Donna Sue Bouzis, in 2005. A Trisagion memorial service conducted by Father Stephen Ziton was held at Bustard's Funeral Home in Casper on July 10. A funeral service for Dena was held on Thursday, July 11 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, with Father Ziton presiding. Interment followed in the AHEPA section of Highland Cemetery. On August 11, a memorial service marking the fortieth day of her passing will be held at Aghios Dimitrios, her family's church in Pakia, Lakonia, Greece. Memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Casper, Wyoming.

Service

Thursday, July 11, 2013 10:00am

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

1350 East C

CASPER, WY 82601

Visitation

Wednesday, July 10, 2013 8:00am - 3:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Directors and Crematory

600 C.Y. Avenue

Casper, WY 82601