Athena Georgopoulos Cairo

On February 28, 2022, Athena Georgopoulos Cairo died at the age of 101. She was born November 6, 1920 in Athens, Greece to Aglaia and Adamont Georgopoulos. Her family moved from Greece to the US in the early 1920's. Athena spent her childhood in Terra Haute, Indiana and Detroit, Michigan, then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in the 1940's where she met and married Cosma Cairo in 1947.

Athena was a force. Smart, elegant, artistic, engaging, curious and opinionated. She built a home of warmth, acceptance and unconditional love – and a sense of humor. You couldn't survive in our home without one. She was a romantic. She loved castles, doll houses, old movies and old movie stars. She loved politics, watching CNN and MSNBC for hours on end. She loved to travel. Even into her 90's she traveled to far flung places like New Zealand.

Athena excelled at conversation. She was a great talker, and an even better listener, talking with friends, children and grandchildren for hours, always interested in what they had to say.

She had a passionate dedication to and unconditional love for her family. She felt deeply for her three children, our spouses, her seven grandchildren and her 15 great grandchildren. We grew up in a house full of family and friends, cocktail parties, golf tournaments and holiday celebrations. From Thanksgiving dinners in our basement for the extended family of 35 to the semi-annual driving trips to Michigan to the pre-wedding lamb barbeques to the rummy royal games with our cousins in Bountiful, her life and ours centered on family.

But family wasn't narrowly defined. Mom was the consummate hostess, Dad the jovial host, for countless gatherings in our home. She prepared exquisite food, created just the right ambience and set a beautiful table – complete with post-it notes on the serving dishes days before a party. She and my father made our home a warm and welcoming place where friends became family.

Mom's death came as no surprise, least of all to her. One week before she died, mom rallied for lunch with grandchildren and great grandchildren. When they walked back to her room, and got her settled in her recliner, she sat back and said “Let me just take you all in”. Athena Cairo took in everything – the good, the bad, the joyful and the heartbreaking. Her orbit was large and everything was a little brighter in her presence.

Athena is survived by her three children: Peter (Kathy DeJardin) Cairo, Stephanie (Elliott) Williams, and Alexis (Dan Sorensen) Cairo; seven grandchildren: Danielle, Ben (Helena), Andrea (Andy), Justin (Charlet), Samantha (Julia), Peter and Megan (Pete); and 15 great grandchildren (Addi, Sam, Max, Brec, Michael, Lily, Zoe, Athena, Emma, CiCi, Amelie, Jake, Joni, Georgia and August).

Our heartfelt thanks to Sunrise Senior Living and Inspiration Hospice for the love, care and compassion they showed to our mother. We don't know what we would have done without you. If you are inclined to remember mom, please make a contribution in her name to Operation Smile www.operationsmile.org or a charity of your choice.