Andrea D. Mayzes, 80

Andrea D. Mayzes went to Heaven on Oct. 5, 2020, at Kootenai Health, due to a long battle with age-related and natural causes, with family at her side. Andrea was born in Detroit and was the only child to Andrew and Ethel Angelidas.

Andrea married early in her life to Anthony T. Papatheodore and moved to Livonia, Mich., to raise their three sons, Andrew, James and Tony Pappas.

Andrea was proud of her Greek heritage and taught Sunday School at St. Constantine and Helens Greek Orthodox Church in Detroit for several years. She also enjoyed being an Avon Lady. Her entire life was devoted to her family, decorating their home beautifully, and living The Good Life according to God. This was the bedrock and never-ending focus of her life.

Later on, Andrea and her family worked at their family owned Greek Restaurant in Southfield, Mich. Several years later, they sold the restaurant and moved to the country in Brighton, Mich. Here, Andrea worked as a cashier at the local Kroger Grocery store. It was there that she divorced after 24 years of marriage and met and fell in love with the hardworking and dashing Englishman, Charles Mayzes. Their marriage lasted 38 years until her death.

The family then moved down to her favorite vacation state, Florida. There, she worked again, mostly as a cashier, and then they started their own furniture and moving business. They operated it successfully for about seven years before closing it. Andrea then joined her three sons in the car business, working at a wonderful family-owned car dealership in Melbourne, Fla. Her sons, Andrew and Tony, were both very successful in upper management. Andrea turned their aftermarket department into a huge success.

Andrea and Chuck then answered the “Call of the Wild” and moved to North Idaho to join their wild son, Jimmy, in what became the most adventurous part of their lives. For more than a decade, the three of them traveled the country, from the Western Rockies to the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Her son, Jimmy, built a remote mountain cabin in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and they enjoyed it for many treasured years with Jimmy's wonderful wife, Nancy.

They eventually moved to Coeur d'Alene to settle down and enjoy backyard barbecues, family events and all the holidays. Andrea enjoyed cooking delicious Greek meals and passed on the recipes to Jimmy's wife, Nancy. Andrea especially enjoyed long talks with family and friends. Her favorite movies were the "Wizard of Oz" and the new "Cinderella" with Cate Blanchett.

Andrea was entirely devoted to her family and was gifted at taking care of everybody, but not so much herself. I cannot put into words how very lucky we were to have lived our lives so closely with her. We will all dearly miss her, remember her and love her forever. Please forgive me for anyone or anything I may have forgotten. There is just no way to describe how very special she was without making this a novel.

Andrea is survived by her husband, Charles; son Andy Pappas; daughter-in-law Evelyn Pappas; son and daughter-in-law James and Nancy Pappas; son and daughter-in-law Tony and Debbie Pappas; two stepchildren, Mike and Leigh Mayzes; two grandsons, Andrew Pappas Jr. and Tony Pappas Jr.; eight step-grandchildren; and one great-step-granddaughter.

A visitation and viewing will be held from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene. The graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, at Riverview Cemetery, 1065 N. Lincoln Way, Coeur d’Alene.

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Andrea’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.