Bess Savakis

Bess Savakis, age 71, of Ridgewood, passed away August 22, 2018. Daughter of the late Louis and Anastasia Hanges (nee Raptis), she is survived by her beloved husband, Michael. Bess was the adoring mother of James and wife Kate. She was the devoted sister to Helen Hanges and Joanna Constantine (nee Hanges) and husband Taso. Bess was Sister in law to Yanna and Kosta Markouti and Vasoula and Yannis Papadopoulos. She was the revered Aunt of Eric and Evanne Sharp, Greg and Anastasia Georgas, Demetris and Vangelis Markouti, Panayoti and Demetris Papadopoulos, and several beloved grand nieces and nephews.

Bess was born in Manhattan, New York in 1946 and grew up on the Upper West Side.  She attended New York City public schools and graduated from George Washington High School in 1946.  Upon graduating, she began working at the family-owned Hanges Flower Shop, which opened in 1907, for 24 years, before it was sold in 1988.  She carried what she learned at the flower shop, including her love of hard work and flowers throughout her entire life.

Bess loved to visit family and travel to Greece, where she met Michael, who she married in 1973 in Ptolemais. They returned to New York and lived on the Upper West Side, where had their son James in 1982.  Bess described becoming James’ mother as the best moment of her life.

In 1994, the family moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey.  Moving to the suburbs was a dream for Bess, and she was in love with both her home and her town.  Bess continued to work as a sales associate at Bloomingdales, and later joined Michael working at Steven Corn Furs, for many happy years.

Once she retired, Bess continued to fill her life with friends and family. She loved music and dancing, was the life of every party, but also loved to just grab a cup of coffee and chat. Bess was a breast cancer survivor for 25 years and fought hard, but also found joy in every day.  Her resilience, strength and love of life is something that impressed everyone she met.

All are invited to meet Saturday 9:00 AM at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 467 Grandview Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ, for the Funeral Service. Interment to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Visiting Friday 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Feeney Funeral Home, 232 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood. Feeneyfuneralhome.com