Sophia Pavlakis Livas

CHAPEL HILL: Sophia ???Sophie??? Pavlakis Livas, 96, died peacefully at UNC Memorial Hospital Saturday, December 13, 2014 after a brief illness. Born June 9, 1918 in Durham, she lived her early years in Chapel Hill and as a teeneer moved with her parents to Thessaloniki, Greece, where she graduated from the American Girls College. In 1937, she married George Livas and returned to Chapel Hill where she and her husband raised two daughters, and where she spent the next 70 years of her life. Mrs. Livas dearly loved Chapel Hill and the Uneersity with all the cultural activities afforded. Her great passions were classical music, reading, gardening, gourmet cooking aneentertaining. Among other activities she enjoyed were singing in the Chapel Hill Choral Society and the St. Barbara Church choir. Mrs. Livas was a founding member of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church and a member of the Chapel Hill Historical Society. Sophie Livas will be remembered for her exuberant warmth, bouneess energy, charm and gift of hospitality. Surviving are her daughters, Elaini L. Bingham of Charlotte and Katherine Livas of Fearrington Village; her granddaughters, Christine (Scott) Ray of Charlotte and Georgette (Ryan) Dienst of Edwards, CO; and great grandchildren, Davis, Owen, Gabrielle, Harrison and Stella Ray, and Becker, Alexandra and Mac Dienst. Sophie was predeceased by her husband, George Livas; her parents, Evdoxia and Costandinos Pavlakis and her brother, John Pavlakis. The funeral will be 10:00 AM Wednesday from St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, with burial following in Old Chapel Hill Cemetery (adjacent to campus). Friends may visit 6-8 PM Tuesday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service with the Trisagion litany said at 7:00. Gifts in Sophie???s memory may be made to the George Livas Memorial Fund, UNC School of Nursing; giving.uneedu/gift/son; to St. Barbara???s Church Building Fund, 8306 NC Hwy. 751, Durham 27713; or to the Chamber Orchestra of the Trianee, 1213 E. Franklin St. Chapel Hill 27514.