Irene Tekakis Valen

Irene (Tekakis) Valen “Yiayia”, 99, of Middletown, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23, 2009, in her home surrounded by her family.

Irene was raised on the island of Crete, Greece, where she met and married her husband Gus Valen. They immigrated to the United States in 1927 and settled in Middletown, Ohio. They owned and operated The Liberty Restaurant, known for its family friendly atmosphere and famous Liberty hotdogs.
In 1930, with a growing Greek community in Middletown, Irene and her husband assisted others in building Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Irene was totally devoted to her church, family and her treasured friends. She was a charter member and president of the Daughter's of Penelope and Philoptochos Society and a charter member of Accents.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gus Anthony Valen; parents, Konstantine and Maria (Georgilas) Tekakis; sister, Krystallia (Tekakis) and husband, John Pantel; brother, Otis Tekakis; daughter, Despina (Valen) Sakelos; and great grandson, Lazaros Thomas Retzios.

Mrs. Valen is survived by her son, Judge Anthony Valen and his wife, Carol Valen; son-in-law, James Sakelos; grandchild, Irene (Valen) and Anthony Zalants, with children, Emanuel and Valen; grandchild, Angela (Valen) and Thomas Retzios, with surviving children, Caroline, Thomas and Anthony; grandchild, Connie (Valen) and Tom Hodson, with children Margaret and Joey; grandchild, Gus and his wife, Kelly Valen, with children Anthony and Katherine; grandchild John and Kathy Sakelos, with children Maria and Jacob; grandchild, Mary (Sakelos) Barnhart, with children Daniel and Ian; grandchild, Irene Sakelos; grandchild, Nick Sakelos; niece, Irene (Pantel) Cavalaris and husband George; nephew, Nick Pantel; nephew, Gus and Beatrice Pantel; first cousins, Eleni (Nikoloudakis) and Aris Kopsidas; and many other great nieces, nephews, godchildren, relatives and friends.


Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 with the Trisagion Service held at 7 p.m. at WILSON-SCHRAMM-SPAULDING FUNERAL HOME, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd., Middletown. Funeral Service will be held Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10:00 am at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown with Father Gregory Patsis, Father Mark Emroll and Father Bill Cassis officiating. Interment will follow at Woodside Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.

Funeral Home:
Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding
3805 Roosevelt Blvd.
Middletown, OH
US 45044