Theodota (Dorothy) Frengou

Theodota (Dorothy) Frengou, beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2024, at the age of 91 in Columbus, Ohio. She was born on September 23, 1932, in the village of Asprogia, Greece.
Dorothy or Dota, as she was affectionately known, was a pillar of strength and grace. Her early years in Asprogia were marked by a childhood filled with simplicity, surrounded by the beauty of the Greek countryside. This upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for family bonds, community, and the joys of life's simple pleasures.
In 1957, Dorothy embarked on a new chapter of her life when she married Lazar. Together, they built a life grounded in love, mutual respect, and shared dreams. Their journey took them from Greece to Akron, Ohio.
As a mother, Dorothy was nurturing and devoted. She poured her heart and soul into creating a warm and loving home for her children, Jerry and Kathy, imparting invaluable lessons of kindness, and the importance of family unity. Her kitchen was a hub of delicious Greek and Macedonian aromas of Zelnik, Pastitsio, Lamb Dishes and many baked goods.
Dorothy's dedication to family extended beyond her immediate household, as she also cherished her role as a sister, baba (grandmother), thea/vouina (aunt) and friend. Her gentle spirit and kind words for all endeared her to everyone who knew her. She and her husband volunteered their time and talent in helping prepare and serve food for many Fish Fridays, Spaghetti Dinners and Wedding Banquets at St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church. Her green thumb clearly was noticed based on all the blooming flowers and vegetables in the garden. And she was an expert in knitting and crocheting making blankets for infants at Children's Hospital.
In her later years, Dorothy found immense joy in her role as a grandmother. She delighted in her grandchildren, Alex and Brian and many great nieces and nephews, passing on the traditions and stories that made her own life rich and meaningful.
Dorothy leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and a profound sense of family. Preceded in death by her parents, Vangeli and Lena Nikolaidis, her husband, Lazar and daughter, Kathy. Surviving are her loving son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Karen, and her cherished grandchildren, Alex and Brian. Also surviving are a brother, Elias (Maria) Nikolaidis, and sisters, Koula (Alex) Parpoulas, Mary (Pascale) Staios, and sister-in-law, Anne Clement. She also leaves nieces Rebecca, Rose, Lena and nephews Nick and Vangeli as well as great nieces and great nephews in the US, Canada and Greece. In addition, Dota leaves many beloved friends in Akron and at Story Point in Columbus where she resided for the past 5+ years.
Visitation will be held at St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church, on Friday February 23 from 9.30-11 am. The funeral service to celebrate Dorothy's life will begin at 11.00 am. with interment immediately following the service at Rose Hill. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church (555 S. Cleveland-Massillon Rd, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333) or the American Lung Association.