Bettie Mae Panagakos

Bettie Mae Panagakos, 97, of Ellicott City, MD, passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Autumn Lake Healthcare at Longview in Manchester, MD.  Born on August 21, 1927, in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Miller and Margaret Lessner Miller. She was the beloved wife of the late Nickolas Panagakos, who passed away in 2002.

Bettie attended Baltimore City schools but left before graduation to help support her mother and siblings. On October 31, 1948 she married the "boy across the street" at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation where she remained a lifetime member.

In her teens and the early years of her marriage, she worked as a bookkeeper for Koontz Dairy and Baltimore Gas & Electric ("The Gas Company"). In 1952 she welcomed her daughter Barbara. She was also a loving crossing guard to the neighborhood children.

The family moved to Randallstown where they welcomed twin boys, Peter and Nickolas in 1968. After earning her GED she was proud to work as a teller at Union Trust Bank and later as an auditor for the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn.

After retirement Bettie and Nick enjoyed weekly drives to visit their children and their families. They moved to Selbourne House of Dorsey Hall in Ellicott City in 2001 where she made special friends Doris Kinnear, Lillian Wagner and Alice "Mom Mom" Mills.

She was an AVID reader well into her 90s until her vision prevented it. She loved buying gifts for her grandchildren and eating out with her family, enjoying crab cakes, soft shelled crab sandwiches and barbeque spareribs whenever possible.

Surviving her are sons: Pete Panagakos and wife Heather of Hampstead, MD, Nickolas Panagakos and wife Christine of Hampstead, MD, son-in-law: Mike Cole of Woodbine, MD, grandchildren: Michael, Heather, Alex, Natalie, Sophie, Matthew, Ashley, and great-grandchildren: Ayla, Leah, Alex, Zoe, and Harrison.  Bettie is also survived by her sister Virginia Allen of Myrtle Beach, NC and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

She was predeceased by her daughter: Barbara Cole, and siblings: Ramona Arnold and Arthur Miller, Jr.

The family will receive visitors on Monday, December 30, from 10-11 am, at the Greek Orthodox Cemetery Chapel, 5917 Windsor Mill Road, Woodlawn, MD where a funeral service will begin at 11 am.

Interment to follow in the cemetery.

If desired, donations may be offered to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 W. Preston St, Baltimore, MD 21201

Arrangements are by the ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., Manchester, MD