Aspasia "Espe" Kontinos' Obituary
Presbytera Aspasia “Espe” Kontinos passed away peacefully at her home on February 9, 2026 in her 91st year.
Espe was born May 20, 1935 in Worcester, MA to Thomas S. And Maria (Karabinas) Kaplanes, both immigrants from Greece in 1933. She graduated high school and soon thereafter married her husband of 56 years Arthur Kontinos of Keene, NH. Arthur would soon thereafter be ordained priest in the Greek Orthodox Church thereby endowing Espe with the honorific “Presbytera”. She was the nuclear family rock, raising three children while supporting her husband through successive parish assignments in Woburn, MA; Aliquippa, PA; Arlington, MA; and finally Ft. Myers, FL.
Espe was fiercely independent. She was an early adopter of the national trend toward two working parent households. She started her career at the historic Filene’s Department Store in Belmont, MA, working in the shoe department. In Florida, she began working at the Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel Island. Through many management and ownership changes, Espe was the one constant at the Dunes for 39 yrs. Catering to vacationers and part time resident snow birds, the Dunes received returning customers who would be joyful to once again find Espe in the golf pro shop. Espe herself was an accomplished amateur golfer. She was a member of Haverhill Golf and Country Club in Haverhill, MA and Cypress Lake Country Club in Ft. Myers, FL. Espe competed in amateur inter-club tournaments throughout the state of Florida. Frequently a runner up, Espe broke through and won the Woman’s Golf Association Championship in 1994. While not a tremendously long ball hitter, she was handy as they come around the green. She was more than frequently a chip and a put away from beating you.
In light of her independent streak, her commitment to her family was revealed borne more of choice than obligation. Being the wife of a parish priest had its challenges, balancing the expectations of the priest and parish community with personal goals and interests. Espe served with beauty, grace and style. At the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church she was the choir organist for 25 years. She was much delighted to have the choir cove named in her honor on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
Espe was a joy. She was very well known for her sense of humor that was at once both goofy and modestly transgressive. She was more prone to laughing at herself than laughing at the expense of others. She was greatly loved and will be missed dearly.
Aspasia was preceded in death by her husband Father Arthur in 2009. She is survived by her daughter, Athanasia Kontinos of Fort Myers, Florida; her son, Thomas Kontinos (Chandra) of Fort Myers, Florida; and her son, Dean Kontinos (Shannon) of Sunnyvale, California. She also leaves behind her treasured grandchildren, Michael Dillon (Desiree), Lukas Arthur, Moriah Grace, Athanasios Constantine, and Sophia Walker, along with her great-grandchildren, Kase Wylder and Nash Dillon, who were the light of her later years.
Memorial service will be on Monday, February 16 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Cypress Lake Drive in Ft. Myers. Viewing will be at 10:00 am, funeral service at 11:00 am with a Makaria at the church following the burial. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly suggests donations be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Burial will follow at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.
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