Selestia “Seva” (Chagaruly) Pechonis 93 of Whitman passed away peacefully at Life Care in West Bridgewater MA on October 27, 2021.
Selestia was born March 13, 1928 to George and Catherine (Fountas) (Chagaroules) Chagaruly of New Bedford MA where she was the youngest of seven children.
Selestia left school at 16 to help support her family and become a stitcher at a local garment factory. She then moved on to other factory positions before taking a housekeeping position at Goddard Memorial Hospital in Stoughton. After retirement, she became an activities assistant at Coyne Nursing Home until she retired from there in her 80’s.
As a young woman, she spent her free time caring for her many nieces and nephews; taking them on trips, music lessons, Girl Scouts and fun days at the beach. Selestia loved to gather up her girlfriends to go out for a night of dancing. It was a night of dancing where she met her husband of 23 years, Kosta Pechonis.
Selestia spent many years as a member of the West Bridgewater Lioness and the West Bridgewater Lions Clubs where she served in all capacities from member to president. She dedicated her time to helping others in need with an emphasis on the Lions Eye Research program.
Selestia is predeceased by her husband Kosta Pechonis and is survived by their daughter Nicole (Pechonis) Tanner and husband James Tanner of Whitman, her beloved grandsons Joseph Tanner and Christian Tanner, and her bonus daughter Lisa (Devine) Tobin. She is also survived by her sister Demeta Yotides, many nieces and nephews and predeceased by her sisters Maria Nanopolous, Theodora George, Julia Baptiste, Helen Caradimos and their brother Constantine Chagaruly.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday November 2nd at 10:00AM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58@ the rotary ) in Whitman, followed by a burial at 1:00PM in the MA National Cemetery in Bourne. Visiting hours will be held at the on Monday November 1st from 5:00-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the West Bridgewater Lions Club, 29 Ellis Ave, West Bridgewater MA 02379