Obituary of Katie Sedereas

The falling asleep of the Matriarch of the Sedereas Family + Katie Sedereas .

 It is with great sadness, that we inform you that Katie Sedereas, 93, passed away on November 18, 2020 in Randolph, New Jersey. May her memory be eternal.  

 She was born into humble beginnings on August 28^th, 1927 in the coal mining town of Herrick, Ohio.  Her parents were Greek immigrants, Stelios Cederas of Chios, Greece and Maria Kalomedis of Kalamata, Greece.  As a young child during the Great Depression, her family lived in Tridelphia, West Virginia, where her father worked in the coal mines.  Katie would always say, “times were tough, but we always managed to get through it”.

 Upon entering High School, her family moved to Warren, Ohio.  This is where she met the love of her life, Peter Sedereas, of Chios, Greece, who came to Warren to visit a relative.  In 1944 they would marry and move to Newark, NJ where they would embark on a long and successful partnership in the restaurant business.  They owned famous dining institutions in New Jersey such as the Lackawanna Diner and Three Sisters Restaurant, and since 1987, the Townsquare Diner in Wharton, where she was still assisting her son Costa and Grandson Peter, greeting patrons with her delightful smile as they came in to dine.  She always felt this was the best part of her day.  Katie was an astute businesswoman, with a keen eye towards finance, managing her own portfolio.  

 Katie and Peter instilled in their family that the most important principles in life are your family, church and business, and believed that “too whom much was given, much is to be  expected”.  With a deep sense of Civic Duty to the community and Church, four generations of the Sedereas family have humbly served its community in leadership positions at St Andrew Church, The Order of AHEPA, GOYA and in local governance.  Early in their marriage, Katie and Peter worked diligently to not only support their own burgeoning family, but help their extended family settle in America and support those in Greece during difficult times.

Katie was most proud of being the Godmother of St Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Randolph.  On several occasions, she and Peter were the Grand Benefactors for the Church; Building of the new Church in Randolph, the Consecration Service, Paving of the Parking Lot, Building of the Community Center and Gym as well as purchasing the land for the Church’s lower parking lot, donating Iconography, Chandelier’s and Stained Glass windows for St Andrew.  Katie was named Mother of the Year by the Philoptichos and husband Peter was bestowed the great honor of becoming an Archon of the Apostle of St Andrew of the Great Church of Christ.

 Truly a great woman, a loving Grandmother, she has left behind an enduring and loving legacy, knowing that she has helped those around her to live full and accomplished lives.  Katie will be missed by all that she has touched. 

 Katie was pre-deceased by her loving husband Peter and is survived by her 2 children, her son Costa and wife Eugenia, and her Daughter Maria (pre-deceased by her husband Vasili); grandchildren, Peter and his wife Diana, Katie and her husband George, StevenJohn and his wife Stacey and Marlena and her husband Larry ; Great-Grandchildren, Venia, Constantine, Despina, Fotine, John, Katie, Billy, John and Peter; her brother, Michael; and Katie leaves behind a much beloved extended family and friends.  Katie was predeceased by her brother Marco and Sisters Helen, Diana and Sophie.

Visitation Monday, November 23, 2020 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Randolph, with a Funeral Service at 11:00 AM also at the church. Interment to follow at Restland Memorial Cemetery, East Hanover. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Katie’s memory can be made to St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church Website: https://www.standrewgonj.org/ and choose PayPal / online WeShare   All arrangements by Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (www.tuttlefh.com).

COVID protocols will be followed.