Lifelong Heights Resident and Past Business Owner Passes Away

The following is an obituary for Tassie Cladis, a lifelong Chicago Heights resident who recently passed away. Tassie wrote her own obituary and opted not to include the year she was born. The date of her death was added by her family.

Tassie Cladis, the only surviving child of immigrants Panagioti and Theodora (Glavas) Triantafillou, was born in Chicago Heights on Dec. 28.  Tassie passed away peacefully at her home on Dec. 31, 2011.

At an early age she displayed an interest in helping people to acquire knowledge. She was home tutored in the Greek language. Eventually, with a friend, she established an afternoon Greek language school for children of her church. She taught English to new Americans at the Community Center, an integral center in the early years for foreigners.

At her eighth grade graduation from , Tassie was awarded the American Legion Award for outstanding leadership, character and scholarship.  At , from which she graduated in three-and-a-half years, she was an active participant in 22 activities. She established the Lost and Found Department, was a member of Quill and Scroll, Future Teachers of America and was elected to the National Honor Society — all in her junior year.  She was an accompanist for the then-renowned Bloom choir. Although she graduated No. 4 out of a class of 336 and was awarded several scholarships, the family refused to allow further education.

Always with education a priority, later on in life she was awarded a Piano Teacher’s Certificate from Balatka Musical College in Chicago. She also managed a two-year accounting degree from the LaSalle Institution. Later on in life as one of the first students to enroll in the newly established University of Illinois at Bloom High School, she continued her education when the college became . After two years she was awarded the Phi Beta Theta award for outstanding academic work in a junior college.

An astute business woman, she and her husband managed two family businesses (Tafilos Grocery Store and Dennis' Meat Market).

However, with three sons in the picture, she decided to return to education. She joined the Park Forest School District as a library assistant for three years. She then transferred to Chicago Heights School District 170 working in the library, from which she retired after 20 years in 2000.

A dedicated church woman and lifetime member of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago Heights, and Olympia Fields, she served as President and Secretary of the Women’s Philoptochos Society. She led, as organist and director, the church choir for 50 years and served as a Sunday School teacher for four years.

She was an avid collector of plates.  At the time of her death her home was decorated with 285 plates — all representing actual visits by family and friends to names on the plates.  Among the special plates, a plate from each of the universities attended by her sons, a plate of the engagement of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the plate with music of the funeral of Princess Diana, and a special plate from China.

Upon retirement she and her husband of 53 years spent much time traveling.  A high point of the travels was her participation in dances in Switzerland and Greece.  Following the death of her beloved husband she volunteered at the Chicago Heights Public Library and St. James Hospital.  She also spent several hours per month writing articles for the Northwest Indiana Times newspaper.

An Interesting Side Note

Cladis' son Mark, who is an attorney, said his mother was connected to the Heights until the very end.

"She was very entrenched in the Chicago Heights community," Mark said. "The last people she talked to were Mr. (Angelo) Ciambrone and his wife."

Preceding her in death were her parents and her beloved husband, Dennis.  She is survived by her dearest sons, Dr. Peter (Jane) Geneva, IL, Attorney Mark (Debbie) Chicago Heights, and Business Executive Nicholas (Janis) Joliet.  She was a beloved “Yia-Yia” (grandmother) to Dennis (Mary Ann), Andrea, Stacey, Daniel Mark, Maryssa, Daniel Nick, David, and Megan Cladis. Her grandchildren were her absolute pleasure in life.

Survived also by brother-in-law Nick (Peggy) Kladis of Streamwood, the Tofilon family, the Mavragis family and many other relatives and friends in America and Greece.

Visitation on Friday, Jan. 6, from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. at , Chicago Heights.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, leaving funeral home at 10 a.m. for an 11 a.m. service at , 12307 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Palos Heights.  She will be buried at Interment Evergreen Hills Cemetery in Steger.

In lieu of flowers charitable donations to , or Alumni Chicago Heights.

For more information call (708) 754-0016.