Anna Pappas

September 4, 1929 ~ January 7, 2021 (age 91)

Anna Pappas of South Bend, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, January 7, 2021.  Anna was the youngest of four daughters born to Pantelis & Helen (Eleni Gregoriou) Pappas (Pappamihael) on September 4, 1929.  Anna lived her entire life in South Bend.  She was preceded in death by her parents in 1971, by her oldest sister, Coola Pappas Philippis in 2000, by her sister Mary Pappas in 2012, and by her brother-in-law, Serafim (late Coola) Philippis in 2013.  She is survived by her sister, Aphrodite Pappas, her nephew Tim Philippis, her nephew/godson Michael (TeAnn) Philippis and their children, great-nieces, Sophia and Nicole numerous cousins, and several godchildren.  Anna graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1952 with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and a kindergarten endorsement.  In 1962, she graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology.  She began her teaching career at Marquette Elementary School in 1952 and spent her entire 45-year career in Room 109.  She taught first, second, and third grade, but the majority of her teaching career was spent with first graders.  Children and teaching were her life.  She held lifetime memberships in the National Education Association and the Indiana State Teachers Association.  During her years of involvement with NEA-South Bend, she served in many roles, ultimately serving as the president from 1983 through 1997.  Her love for teaching children was also equally shared with her love for her church.  She was a life-long member of the parish of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church.  She served the parish in many different capacities.  In 1965, she was the second-ever recipient of the church’s Annual Service Award.  She was also a talented knitter who made mittens, scarves, socks, baby blankets, coats, sweaters, and blankets for others and enjoyed the challenge of figuring out complicated patterns.  She loved the outdoors and taking care of flowers.  Anna was a very caring person who put others before herself.  One could always count on her for a helping hand.  Her reliability, kindness, loyalty, and heart made her a friend to many.  In her mother’s words, “she brings life with her”.  She loved life and its many challenges.  Memorial contributions may be made in her name to St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Endowment Fund, 52455 North Ironwood, South Bend, IN 46635.  Visitation will be held at 10 am followed by the Funeral Services at 11 am at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday, January 20, concluding at Highland Cemetery.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, capacity limitations will be in place and masks will be required. Palmer Funeral Home – Welsheimer Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Anyone unable to attend may leave condolences at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.   Anna was a loving person and will be greatly missed.  May her memory be eternal.

A capsule of Anna’s life, written by Anna Pappas in the third person…

Anna was the fourth of four daughters born to Pantelis & Helen (Eleni Gregoriou) Pappas (Pappamihael) on September 4, 1929 in Epworth Hospital South Bend.  Anna lived her entire life in South Bend.  She was a life-long member of the parish of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church.

She was preceded in death by both her parents in 1971, by her oldest sister, Coola Pappas Philippis

in 2000, her sister Mary Pappas in 2012, and her brother-in-law, Serafim (late Coola) Philippis in 2013.  She is survived by her sister, Aphrodite Pappas, her friend and companion, of South Bend.

Surviving also are nephew Tim Philippis, nephew/godson Michael (TeAnn) Philippis and their children, great-nieces, Sophia and Nicole, numerous cousins, and several godchildren.

Her education began at the Colfax Elementary School and continued at St. Joseph Academy, then James Madison Elementary Jr. High School, and then graduating from South Bend Central High School in 1947.

She continued her education at Indiana University, Bloomington IN graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and a kindergarten endorsement. In 1962, she graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology.

Under Miss Alice Ellingson, she did her student teaching at Madison Elementary in third grade. She began her teaching career at Marquette Elementary School in 1952. The PTA room was her first assignment at Marquette until the new addition was completed and she could move into Room 109. Her remaining teaching years were spent in Room 109 from where she retired after teaching for 45 years with the South Bend Community School Corporation. Her teaching experience included grades one, two, and three but the majority of her teaching years was in first grade.

Children and teaching were her life.  She believed in the rights of children and teachers and worked diligently throughout her teaching career to see that only the best was provided for both.  Well into the 21st century she was contacted by students she had from her first days of teaching until her final teaching days.  Her students referred to her as their “Miss Pappas.”  One of the greatest complements she received was a thank you from her students for teaching not only the basics but the ways of life.  Another student named his daughter Anna after her.  She had former students travel to South Bend and make a special trip to visit her in her home so that they could thank her for teaching them.  In her latter years, she came in contact with a former Marquette student she had not taught who indicated to her “oh, you are that fun teacher all the kids want to have.”  Anna was a charter member of the Beta Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma and a transfer member of NU Chapter.  Her teaching experience and teaching skills were shared with many through panels, in service classes, and informal meetings.  In 1986, she was named Marquette’s Teacher of the Year.  She mentored many beginning teachers and participated in student teaching programs for Indiana University South Bend and Bloomington and St. Mary’s College South Bend.  Her quest for knowledge for herself and her students drove her to write a grant when the internet first came into existence that provided her classroom with a computer, a telephone, and access to the internet.  She was one of the first elementary teachers to expose elementary students to the internet.  Upon retiring she continued her interest in computers by coaching at Leighton Center in their computer lab along with Don Yates.

In 1972, she began her teacher advocacy role by becoming involved with NEA-South Bend serving on the negotiating team.  This was a very important year for students and teachers because that year the contract negotiated included many aspects important to students and teachers that were grandfathered into law when teacher negotiations became law.  Unfortunately, many of the important aspects for students were stripped away when the laws were changed and teachers were put under attack.

She held lifetime memberships in the National Education Association and the Indian State Teachers Association.  Her membership continued in the Indiana Retired Teachers Association, the ISTA Retired Teachers Association of St. Joseph County, and the St. Joseph County Retired Teachers Association.

During her years of involvement with NEA-South Bend, she served the organization in many roles:  faculty rep, secretary of the negotiating team, vice president of NEA-SB, delegate to the ISTA representative Assembly, delegate to the national NEA Representative Assembly, grievance chair for  NEA- South Bend, LaSalle Area director, and president of NEA-SB.  She started her presidency of NEA-SB in 1983-84 and held that position until the fall of 1997. During her presidency, she taught part-time and was released part-time to work on association business. In order to have this right she had to file a grievance against the corporation and won the right to maintain her teaching position as a full-time teacher with released time.  During this time, she had the good fortune of team teaching with Mrs. Christine Callas.

In 2014, she was known as the longest serving president of NEA-SB and one of the most powerful teachers fighting for the rights of students and teachers.  She was well respected by every superintendent for whom she worked and members of the School Board because of her dedication, teaching skills, and her advocacy role for students and teachers.  The South Bend Central High School Alumni honored her with the Recognition Spirit Award in 2006.

She served the parish of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in several capacities.  She was superintendent of their Sunday School, initiated a children’s service before Sunday School, initiated the participation of mire maids participating in the Holy Friday service, and initiated the making of crosses for Palm Sunday, which was something she had done as a child.  No matter what affair the church sponsored, she was involved:  Ethnic Festival, Grecian Balls, church Consecration, Bishop visits, Metropolitan Visits, anniversary dinners, and Greek Festivals.  In 1965, she was the second-ever recipient of the church’s Annual Service Award.

Upon retiring, she became an active member of the Good Samaritan Club, which is an organization dedicated to philanthropic work dedicated to the community and the church.

Adventure was a passion with her and so she spent every summer and spring break traveling someplace. She visited almost every state in the United States, parts of Canada, and several Caribbean Islands.  Her most relaxing trips were cruises.  She found the land trips fascinating. In Jamaica, she was known as the lady in the red hat.  In Spain, she was shocked when viewing a bull fight.  Because of her Greek heritage, she spent one whole summer in Greece and had the good fortune of traveling from the southern tip of Greece to the farthest northern point of Greece.  Her love of adventure had her leave the United States the day school got out and returned her the day she was to report for the opening of school. She started the first day of school with no sleep. Her trip to Paris with her sisters and three friends was one of true adventure. She got separated from her sisters after visiting Notre Dame around six in the evening.  No one would speak English to her and no one would give her directions on how to get back to the Victoria Palace. “No comprendo” was all she heard. Walking and trying out buses was the only way she finally made it back to the hotel after three hours of being on the French streets alone and in the dark.  Many of her trips involved visiting her beloved nephews and great nieces in Arizona. One of her most enjoyable trips was her trip back to Greece to visit family and relatives.  On one of her trips to Greece she had the good fortune of visiting Master Panayioti Alexopulos.  She had served as a nanny to him for three years.  He was born in South Bend and while his parents were going to school, she took care of him.  The family returned to Greece after graduating. The goal of the trip was to give Panayioti an American Thanksgiving in Greece.  So in a suitcase, she packed items like cranberry sauce, pumpkin for a pie, etc.  He loved having his American family in Greece and his American Thanksgiving.

She was a talented knitter who made mittens, scarves, socks, baby blankets, coats, sweaters, and blankets for others and enjoyed the challenge of figuring out complicated patterns.  She loved the outdoors and taking care of flowers.  She had the knack of starting a plant from a stem left in water to root.

Anna was a very caring person who put others before she put herself.  One could always count on her for a helping hand and her ability to solve a problem.  She appeared to many as being shy until they really got to know her.  Her reliability, kindness, loyalty, and her enormous observation powers made her a friend you would want.  In her mother’s words “she brings life with her”.  She loved life and its many challenges.

9/9/2021 EJS