Marina Lakos was welcomed into the arms of her Lord on Friday, March 21st with her granddaughter, Marina, holding her hand on one side and her beloved niece, Toni, on the other. Marina was 98 years old and under Hospice care in assisted living.
Marina Jaffas was born in Grand Rapids, MI two days before Christmas in 1926 and was a gift to the world.
Marina attended South High School in Grand Rapids where she left early to help her parents, Nicholas and Athens Jaffas, in their family restaurant. Not long after, she met the love of her life, Anthony (Tony) Lakos and they were wed on May 8th, 1949. Tony and Marina adopted two children from Greece. First was Athena at age 3, and then 2 years later they returned to Greece to adopt Peter at age 2. Tony and Marina remained married until Tony’s passing in 2002. Marina was a devoted wife who co-owned and operated many successful restaurants with her husband including Lakos in downtown Grand Rapids, Tony’s in Muskegon, White Sands in Whitehall and others. In her later years she went into partnership with her brother Andy, where they ran Florentine’s Restaurant on 28th St until the mid 90s when she officially retired. She loved to work, and everyone loved to work with her. Her cheerful personality positively affected everyone who met her.
Marina had many hobbies, but her favorite was golfing, a hobby she was able to do well into her 80s. She also loved gardening, cooking delicious meals for loved ones and being outside in the sunshine.
She quickly became the favorite of all who met her, even the animals loved her! She had many dogs throughout her lifetime that were near and dear to her. She loved talking about all of them, especially “Babe” and “Winston”. After she was moved into assisted living, her last dog, “Grayson”, was able to visit her often thanks to her friend, Laurie.
Special thanks to Corewell Hospice and the staff at Commonwealth Senior living where she was loved by all and deemed the “Sun Goddess”.
Marina was a life-long member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and a member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society.
She was preceded in death by her brother Alex, her parents Athens and Nick Jaffas, her husband Tony Lakos, her daughter Athena Elsheikhi, both her brother and sister-in-law, Andy and Maria Jaffas, her in-laws Sam and Dorothy Lakos, and Pete and Catherine Pulos. She is survived by her son Pete Lakos, son-in-law Ibrahim (Abe) Elsheikhi, grandchildren Nick (Nicole) Lakos, Marina (Dan) Jeurink, Joe (Karen) Elsheikhi, Sara (Tim) Matthews, and great-grandchildren Renee, Benjamin, Cora, Marina, Odin and Calvin as well as many other nieces, nephews and close family and friends who loved her dearly.
Services will be held 11:00 am on Thursday, March 27th at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 330 Lakeside Dr NE in Grand Rapids. Family and friends are invited to join the visitation at the church at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Rest Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society at:
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
330 Lakeside Dr NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 as well as the Humane Society of West Michigan.
2 Responses
Marina was a very lovely lady! She was beautiful inside and out! So gracious and kind! I have fond memories of her! May she rest in peace! Memory eternal!
I visited Mrs. Lakos while she was at assisted living in December, 2023. She would always sit in the 3rd row from the back of the church when I entered and I would stop to greet her. I was always amazed with her short, beautiful grey hair. We have lost so many from my past. A first class lady!!Her memory will remain eternal with me.