Obituary of Nota Koutrouba

Nota Koutrouba, a Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother believed she was blessed with the greatest gift in the world, “ a loving family”. Nota passed away peacefully in her home of 64 years with her family at her bedside on Saturday morning, October 7, 2017. She was 87 years old. Nota was born in Tripoli, Greece. She was one of 7 children born to Constantine and Demetria Angelopoulos. She grew up in Greece. After World War II, Nota immigrated to the United States to marry her husband Angelo James Koutrouba. Nota was only 16 years old and spoke little to no English, but that did not stop her from embracing her new country. She learned the language, went to hairdressing school, had a career as a hairstylist in Boston and as a technician at Alpha Industries in Woburn. Nota married Angelo James Koutrouba in 1947. Together in 1952 they built and moved into their home in Woburn. They had four children. Her home was a blend of her past life in Greece and her new life in America. Both English and Greek were spoken interchangeably at home. She was a fantastic cook and baker using many of the same Greek recipes she learned from her mother. Her Baklava, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, Koulourakia, Galatobouliko, Stefato, roast lamb and pastichio were among her family’s favorites. She knew each family member's favorite dishes and would lovingly have them prepared whenever they visited. She also enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to cook. No one left Nota’s kitchen hungry. At home, Nota went by many names; Mama, YiaYia, YiaYia Nota, and YiaYoula. She simply loved being with her family and her faced beamed when family or friends came for a visit. The love for her family flowed strong and deep leaving them memories of Nota that they will forever treasure. Nota had a strong faith and was an active member of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. She enjoyed attending church liturgy, volunteering at church activities and events, and being a member of the church’s chapter of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. She was a member of a quilting club with her friends. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. Her entire back yard bloomed with her beautiful flowers. After her husband’s retirement, she enjoyed spending her winters in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She always loved when family came for visits. She never refused an invitation to go out to lunch or dinner, shopping, or a day trip. She was so thankful to God that she had such a long and rich life and was blessed with such a wonderful family. Nota was the beloved wife of the late Angelo James. She was the loving mother of James A. & his wife Georgiann of Wilmington, Angela C. Hastings & her husband Jeffrey of Dunstable, Corrine Dubay & her husband Michael of Dunstable and Maria Gioumbakis & her husband Ioannis of Chelmsford. She was the sister of Voula Zuras of Maryland, Maria Mitrakis of Maryland, Christopher Angelopoulos of Montreal, Canada, John Angelopolos of Maryland and the late George Angelopoulos of Maryland and James Angelopoulos of Tripoli Greece. She was the proud YiaYia to Catherine Purville, Rebecca Miller, Edward and James Hastings, Stephanie and Phillip Dubay, Evangelos and Elias Gioumbakis, and Maria Nota Chaves. She was the proud Great Grandmother of Jonathan and Sophia Purville, Alexandria and Joshua Miller, Ioannis and Katerina Gioumbakis, and Marianna Chaves. A Visitation will be held at the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 70 Montvale Avenue, Woburn on Wednesday Oct. 11 from 10 – 11 a.m. Concluding with a Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Interment to follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. In lieu of flowers memorials in Nota’s name may be made to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, 70 Montvale Ave., Woburn, MA 01801.