Jennie Nikitas
Jennie Nikitas
JENNIE
NIKITAS Aug. 2, 1919 - July 3, 2012 Jennie Nikitas died peacefully on
July 3, 2012, at the San Francisco home she shared with her sister Mary
Kanellis, with family by her side. A visitation and trisagion service
will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, July 13 at Alden-Waggoner Funeral
Chapel in Boise, Idaho, her birthplace. A funeral service will be held
at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 14 at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek
Orthodox Church, 2618 W. Bannock St. The family will also host a
memorial in San Francisco on Sunday, August 19th. Born to Greek
immigrant parents Mike and Bella Alexander on August 2, 1919, Jennie
enjoyed growing up in Idaho, and was a 1938 graduate of Boise High
School. She began her lifelong career in retailing at C.C. Anderson's
department store (later the Bon Marche), and was a highly regarded sales
associate. During World War II, Jennie met Vennie Nikitas, an airman
stationed at Gowen Field, and they married on November 7, 1943, before
he served in the Pacific Theater. Following the war the couple lived in
Boise for a decade and they were founding members of Sts. Constantine
and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Vennie entered the hospitality business
with jobs at the Boise and Owyhee Hotels, and subsequent hotel
management opportunities led the family to live in Utah, Washington, and
several cities in California, where Jennie resided since 1960. She was
preceded in death by her beloved parents, treasured sister Helen,
cherished brother Aleck, dear sisters-in-law Elli Tremulis Alexander and
Pauline Lekos Alexander and brother-in-law Bill Kanellis. Jennie is
survived by sister Mary, and brothers Chris Alexander of Boise and
Nicholas Alexander (Penny Angelides) of La Jolla, California, by sons
Craig Nikitas (Laurie Barnard) of San Francisco and Michael Nikitas of
El Dorado Hills, California, and by her six grandchildren, four
great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of
whom she adored. In 1972, Jennie returned to work at Bay Area retailers
including Liberty House, Bullock's, and finally her dream job at the
Nordstrom Walnut Creek store, where she was constantly in the
"Pacesetter's Club" of top sales associates, and frequently the highest
earner in her store. She developed many loyal customers, for whom she
put together elegant outfits of simple style and high quality. She was
energetic, outgoing, and caring, and loved the performing arts,
especially dance and film. She inspired and supported the younger
generations of her family and friends, many of whom pursued careers in
creative fields. She will be remembered especially for the delicious and
elaborate meals she prepared, based on the traditional cuisine of her
Greek heritage and overlaid by the modern French cooking techniques of
Julia Child and Jacques Pepin. Jennie was happiest in the company of her
large family. Her strong presence and the love and care she provided
are cherished memories and will be sorely missed by all she touched. The
family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice By
The Bay, San Francisco, or to hospice providers of the donor's choice.
They also wish to thank Jennie's angelic caregivers Kennelyn, Rachel,
Rose, Susan, and Agnes.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jennie Nikitas, please visit our flower store.
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