Surrey, Androniki

Androniki (Niki) Surrey of Blacksburg, Virginia, died aged 84 on May 27, 2013, at LewisGale Hospital after a short illness. She is fondly remembered by her sons, John and James, and John’s wife Nasso; her grandchildren, Claire Surrey and Miles Surrey; her sisters Dina Havelos, Koula Siafacas and Rose Kroustalis; and her brother Nicholas Karagiorgis, as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins. Her husband, Charles Surrey, died earlier this year. Niki was born in the village of Viniani, Greece, on December 17, 1928. Her father lived in the United States where he ran different businesses, and Niki, her mother and her siblings joined him in Frederick, Maryland following World War II. After her parents moved back to Greece in the mid-1950s, she joined them in Athens, where she met Charles Surrey, a Greek-Australian who was assigned to the US Embassy there. They were married on September 22, 1957. Their first son, John, was born in 1959 and they moved back to the Washington, DC area in 1960 before returning 2 years later to Athens, where their second son, James, was born. In 1978 Niki and Charles returned to Washington and in 1996 moved to Blacksburg, where James had established a construction company, buying the first house he had built. Until very recently they traveled to Greece every year and often continued on to Cyprus to visit John and Nasso. Their travels took them as far as Australia in 1999, and they also had fond memories of cruising the Mediterranean in 1992. Niki took great joy and pride in looking after her family and friends. She was renowned for her gourmet cooking, particularly desserts and baked goods. Her Greek cookies and holiday breads would often be delivered to her grandchildren in far corners of the globe. For many of her family and friends, however, the most enduring memories of Niki are her happy nature, invariable optimism, and a perpetual smile beaming on them. Viewing will be held at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg on Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be conducted Monday, June 3, 2013 at 11:00 am in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Peter A. Day officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Huntington Blvd. NE Roanoke, Virginia 24012.