SACO — Surrounded by her family, Amelia Daoutakos (Danton) Giatas, 86, of Saco, died at home on Oct. 15, 2018.

She was born in Biddeford on June 25, 1932, the daughter of Vasilios Daoutakos and Demetra (Kargakos) Daoutakos. The youngest of 10 children, Amelia was nicknamed Molly by her oldest sister and the name stuck.

After graduating from Biddeford High School in 1950, Molly was employed at the Saco-Lowell Shops in Biddeford.  She met her husband of 40 years, George M. Giatas and they married on April 24, 1960.  As his work in retail management required travel and multiple relocations, they spent the early part of their marriage living in a variety of places including Millinocket, Maine and Woodstock and Corning, New York.  Eventually, they moved to Bridgton, Maine where they lived for 31 years, and together they owned and operated Swanson’s, and later, Martin’s Causeway Gifts in Naples and Amelia’s Gifts in Old Orchard Beach.

One of Molly’s greatest passions was baking.  She was an adventurous and accomplished baker and got great satisfaction in creating cookies, pies, cakes, muffins and Greek pastries.  Her home always smelled like a bakery and she loved sharing the spoils of her labor.  Nothing gave her more pleasure than delivering a pie to a neighbor or offering a variety of baked goods to a visitor.  She loved desserts, both making them and devouring them, and if she could’ve served dessert after breakfast, she would have.

Molly derived great happiness spending time with her large family, her daughters and the friends they brought into the folds of her life.

She was predeceased by her husband; her brothers, Nicholas W. (Daoutakos) Danton, Thomas Daoutakos , Michael Daoutakos and Peter W. (Daoutakos) Danton,  and her sisters, Katherine Gregorakos, Antonia Burnham, Stella Bloom, Maria Economos and Georgia Mouzas.

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She is survived by her daughters, Domna Giatas and husband Ned McCann,  Demetra Giatas and husband Kent Avery, and Dyonisia Giatas and partner Patric Whitcomb.

She is survived as well by her nephews, William Burnham of Dover, New Hampshire., Alexander Mouzas of Biddeford, and William Danton of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, niece, Sharon Strangas of Greenland, New Hampshire; great-nephews, William Burnham Jr. and Charles Burnham, both of Dover, New Hampshire, Nicholas Strangas of Elliot, Nicholas Danton, James Danton and Peter Danton all of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, great-nieces, Kim Roush of Virginia Beach, Virginia., Carol Bergen of Freemont, New Hampshire., and Anastasia Strangas of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; great-great-nieces, Stephanie Roush of Denver, Colorado and Chelsea Strangas of Elliot.

Molly’s daughters would like to thank Dr. David Strassler, Patty Bouvier of Home Instead for her beautiful care, and especially her primary caregiver, Victoria Patterson, and her family.   The Pattersons gave Molly an abundance of love, not to mention countless trips to Dairy Queen, hours of suntanning, and lots of song and dance and laughter over the past threeyears.

Visiting hours will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018 with Trisagion Prayers at 10 a.m. at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, 87 James St., Saco. A Funeral Service will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant St., Portland, ME. Burial will follow at St. Demetrios Cemetery, Biddeford, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Molly’s memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, 383 US Route One #2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.

To view Molly’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com

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