Marina Pegas' Obituary
It is with profound sorrow that we announce Marina Pegas (née Papanicolaou), 90, died peacefully on September 9, 2025.
She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin,
Godmother and friend. Marina was born in Latzoi, Ilia, Greece on February 22, 1935, a birthday she shared with her beloved husband Manny, which everyone thought was very special.
She was the middle child to Rev. Spelios and Presvytera Paraskevi Papanicolaou, with her older sister Theodora and younger brother George. She had vivid memories of the war and left Greece at age 10 with her family to start a new life in New York, where her father’s sisters lived. Though she had chances to go back for a visit, she never wanted to. America became her home.
Marina’s family frequently moved as her father was a priest in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. She learned the English language, loved school, graduated High School, and was Miss AHEPA.
She studied at St. Basil’s Academy, in New York, to become a Greek School teacher. But everything changed when she met Manny during a school break in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. She never went back to St. Basil’s, because she found the love of her life.
Marina and Manny got married in 1958 at All Saint’s Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. They had a cross-country honeymoon traveling from Canonsburg to San Diego, California. They moved into their first home in La Mesa, and later to Spring Valley where she and Manny raised a daughter and a son, Tina and Peter.
Marina was the heart of her family, a devoted wife, nurturing mother and adoring Yiayia (grandmother). Her love for them knew no bounds, instilling in them values of compassion, strength, and determination.
She was a woman of immense faith in God, which she also instilled in her family. She loved her church and her church community, where she and husband Manny sang in the choir for many years. She loved to cook and bake delicious meals and desserts and found peace in reading. Her friendships were lifelong and unwavering. She enjoyed working in the yard and even grew a peach tree from a pit. She had a lifelong love for Greek music. She loved to dance.
One of her favorite singers was Yannis Ploutarchos. She had English speaking favorite singers also, Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. She loved mystery and
detective television shows and movies. Law and Order and Blue Bloods were regulars.
Marina was always there for her kids, volunteering at school, and helping with bake sales. She was also a Cub Scout den mother and even helped her son deliver newspapers on rainy mornings. Her kindness, generosity and loving spirit touched everyone she met.
Marina was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of nearly 65 years, Manny, her cherished parents and brother George. She leaves behind her loving children Tina (Dn. Michael) Kallas, Peter Pegas, treasured grandchild Hannah Kallas, beloved sister Theodora, nephews, nieces and
Godchildren whom she held dear. Marina embraced her role as Yiayia (grandmother) with immense joy and pride. May her memory be eternal!
In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, 3655 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92103
What’s your fondest memory of Marina?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marina?
Share a story where Marina's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marina you’ll never forget.
How did Marina make you smile?