Andrianou Hajiantoni

HAJIANTONI, ANDRIANOU

Andriani (Karageorge) Hajiantoni, 103, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 26th, 2024 in Forest Hill, MD. She was previously a longtime resident of Dundalk, MD. Her strong faith, resiliency and strength led her through a long life that saw both difficult struggles and great successes.

Born Andrianou Karageorge on October 14, 1920, in Kythrea, Cyprus, the only child of the late Loucas Karageorge and Maria Adamou Koulas. After her father died when she was only 10, she and her mother experienced financial hardships that forced her to finish school after the 6th grade. Always an intelligent and independent minded person, she regretted that she did not have the opportunity to continue her education to become a teacher. Instead, she apprenticed with her Aunt Irene and became a seamstress.

She married Chrysostomos (Chris) Hajiantonis, a tailor, in 1944 and they welcomed three children, Sotira, Loucas and Maria (died in infancy). Due to financial hardship and lack of opportunity in Cyprus at that time, Chris immigrated to the United States in 1952. Andriani, Sotira and Luke followed in 1954 and the family settled in Eastern Baltimore City, MD. Shortly after in 1955, she welcomed their last child, Peter.

After arriving in the United States, Andriani worked as a seamstress for the London Fog Co in Highlandtown. Always fearless, when the company moved their factory to Hampden, she didn’t let this stop her from working. She learned to drive and with coworkers in tow she worked there until her retirement in 1963 following a heart attack.

In 1959, the family was able to purchase their own home in Dundalk MD. Shortly after in 1960, her mother Maria, joined them in the United States. The family were longtime members of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Baltimore, MD, where she was involved with the women’s group, GAPA. This gave them a new community of other Greek and Cypriot immigrants in Baltimore. Andriani was always a gregarious and welcoming hostess. Hardly a weekend passed in summer without a chance for her and her husband to entertain family and friends. Like most Cypriot women, one of her greatest joys was to cook for and welcome those she loved.

Her husband passed away in 1980 after a short illness. The grief was overwhelming but eventually she found solace in her deep faith when she joined the Greek congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Dundalk. This gave her new meaning, community and support as she navigated life as a widow.

Her later life was spent actively engaged in church activities and with her family. She was able to travel around the US with her church and to return many times to her native Cyprus. She was proud of the educational and work accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. They surpassed the goals that she never had the opportunity to achieve.

She lived the final years of her life in the homes of her children before moving to Sterling Care Forest Hill when her needs became too great. She never lost her gregarious nature even when her mind and body began to fail her. Everyone who took care of her at Sterling Care knew her simply as YiaYia, a feisty, strong-willed and loving woman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and children Maria and Loucas Hajiantoni.

Andriani is survived by her daughter Sotira Mela & her husband Nick, daughter-in-law Kallie Hajiantoni, son Pete Hajiantoni & his wife Margie, grandchildren John Mela & his wife Amanda, Chris Mela, Argie Cochran & her husband Adam, Erika Hajiantoni and Crista Hajiantoni, as well as great-grandchildren Eileen Mela and Nora, Michael & Emilia Cochran.

The family will receive guests at Bradley-Ashton-Kehl Funeral Home on Friday, August 16, 2024 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., where a funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Dundalk MD.

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