Anna Michael Zulia

Anna Michael Zulia passed away peacefully at home on February 27, 2026 at the grand old age of 97. She was born in Akron, Ohio on July 14, 1928 to Michael and Katherine Tourlakis who immigrated from Melos Greece and raised her in the rich culture of their homeland. She grew up in an apartment above her father's restaurant, Milos Lunch, where her dad fed factory workers from Goodyear and surrounding businesses. An avid Cleveland Indians/Guardians fan, she often described some of her happiest times as a child, sitting attentively in the back booth of the restaurant and listening to the baseball games on a radio mounted on the wall. She loved how the whole restaurant would erupt with joy when someone hit a homerun. She never lost her enthusiasm and rarely missed a game.

Anna married the love of her life, Sam Zulia, in 1947 after writing him countless love letters to give him hope while serving in the US navy during WW2. They both often said it was love at first sight. On January 12, 2021, she began her seventy-fifth year as Sam's loving wife, before he passed away on February 11 of that year. Together they built a family on a foundation of love. Her family was the center of her universe: son Michael, who preceded his parents in death, and his wife Joanne Gouskos Zulia; daughter Kathryn "Cookie" and life partner Kathryn Nicolai, and son Ernie. She was so proud of her three grandchildren and their partners, Eleni Anna Zulia and Amanda Davis; Anna Maria Zulia and Anna Gesing; Sam Zulia and Nate Channel. She delighted in the arrival of three great grandchildren; Beatrice, Josephine and Theodore Michael, and happily welcomed into her heart Ernie's two unofficially adopted sons Parker Gard and Zachary Culbreth, along with his dear Leslie Bixby. And in her final years, her loving caregivers Becky Jackson, Diane Simmons, Sharon Langhorn and Winter Johnson became a precious part of our family.

Family was everything to her. Born an only child, she married into the Zulia family when she was 18, and instantly had five gregarious brothers and sisters. At last count the family reached 161, and she adored each and every one. She often said how she went from a lonely childhood to landing smack dab in the middle of the biggest and most loving family she could ever have imagined. She knew everyone by name and spoke endlessly about all of them. She constantly quoted her beloved mother-in-law, Ergina Zulia who's words echoed in her heart: "Agapi Pedia, Agape...Love, my children, Love." And love remained at the center of her life.

She supported her husband steadfastly as he built their successful family business, Allied Microfilm (now Allied Infotech), which they passed on to Michael and now grandson Sam. She had many leadership accomplishments of her own, but she was most proud of serving as a founding chairman of the annual Greek Festival at her beloved Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The festival has grown into one of Akron's most anticipated annual events, and although she stopped attending, she marked it on her calendar every year.

Her homemade baklava was her specialty. She served up thousands of pieces in her lifetime for family events and gifts of affection to countless friends and acquaintances.

Anna grew up and raised her family in Akron, and later Wadsworth where she had the joy to help raise her grandchildren who lived across the street, just as her mother, who lived next door helped raise Michael, Ernie and Cookie. Over seventy-four years in Ohio she grew a long list of dear friends. She enjoyed twelve years of sunshine in Scottsdale Arizona when she retired with Sam, and lived only a few blocks from Cookie and Kathryn who looked after them and cherished many good times together. In 2015, they returned to Wadsworth where Michael and Joanne could love and support them for five more years. They quickly made more dear friends when they moved to The Village of St. Edwards where they were met with much loving care. Anna spent her final years living in Roanoke Virginia with Ernie who adored his Mom and was happy to see her through to the end of her rich, beautiful life.

Anna became even more loving as she moved through her last years, and everything but love seemed to slip away as she approached her life with God. It's often said that nothing can compare to a mother's love, and that's certainly true of our mother. She taught us all that nothing was more important, and we were all so blessed to receive hers. Agape Pedia, Agape.

The family would like to extend deepest gratitude to Good Samaritan Hospice in Roanoke. Danielle, Theresa, Lisa, Lindsey, Ben, Tina, Jean, Crista, Gwenn, Ashley... you all embraced her and loved her until the end.

Calling hours will be held March 12 from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at Anthony Funeral Home, Akron Chapel, 1990 S. Main Street, in Akron, Ohio 44301. Funeral Services will be held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S. Union Street, Akron 44304 on March 13 at 11:00 a.m. It will also be simulcast at annunciationakron.org. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to offer love donations in Anna's honor to her favorite charities: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org or Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Good Samaritans, Akron www.annunciationakron.org