Catherine "Kaye" Bibilos

Catherine C. "Kaye" Bibilos, affectionately known as "Saint Kaye," age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

Kaye, daughter of the late Peter and Sophia (Lembesis) Chaconas, was born in Woburn on June 8, 1940 and was a graduate of Woburn High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She also had a younger brother Pantelis, "Butch" who sadly passed in his teen years.

Kaye was a lifelong member of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Greek Orthodox Church in Woburn. She was a recipient of both the Ministry Award by the Metropolis of Boston and the Archbishop Makarios Lifetime Achievement Award by Annunciation Woburn, both for dedicated service to her church. She was a Past President of the Greek Orthodox Youth Association (GOYA) at the church as would her children and grandchildren follow her in that role.

In 1964 she married John Bibilos, and they had three children, George, Michael and Suzi. While they initially lived in her hometown of Woburn they moved to Melrose in the early 1970's where they raised their beautiful family. Kaye was active in the Parent Teacher Organization at Lincoln School, serving as President on a few occasions. She also served as a Den Mother for Pack 610 when her boys were in the scouts.

For many years Kaye enjoyed her ceramics classes, and the family still treasures several of the beautiful pieces that she made, with her trademark "Kaye" signature mark on the bottom of each. Kaye was also a wonderful cook, who prepared many wonderful leg of lamb dinners, trays of baklava, delicious loaves of tsoureki Easter bread, platters of beautifully rolled koulourakia cookies and the best candied sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving.

For all her adult life, Kaye was a member, and Past President, of the Ladies Philoptochos "Patris" at Annunciation Woburn, supporting the wonderful philanthropic work they do. Kaye was recognized at the 2016 National Greek Orthodox Clergy Laity Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received the National Philoptochos Society's Agape "Love" Award for the Boston Metropolis from Archbishop Demetrios. She was presented with a beautiful hand painted icon which she kept with her through her final days at the nursing home.

Kaye also used to love to sing, a talent shared with her daughter Suzi, and she sang with her beautiful voice as a member of the church choir for decades. Even during the sunset of her life at the nursing home, one of the few activities that she enjoyed were the singalongs they had, and Kaye would join in periodically recalling the words to a song or two.

A talented florist, Kaye was a graduate of Cass School of Floral Design and owner of Bloomers flower shop in Malden which she had for 20 years. Her husband John, when he retired, used to enjoy being one of her delivery drivers until he passed in 2004. Kaye shared her artistic eye and the beauty of her floral talents with her customers whether on something small or at their important life events. She also enjoyed creating the lovely floral work at the church for major events like Holy Week and Easter.

Kaye was the beloved Yia Yia to her five beautiful and cherished grandchildren, Elena, Christina, John, James and Constantine and mother-in-law to George's wife Doreen and Suzi's husband Peter Jervinis. Through it all, Kaye Bibilos had a beautiful life in almost every way imaginable, and she will be loved, missed and remembered by all those who knew her.

Family and friends are invited to gather in Kaye's honor during Visiting Hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 4-7pm, and for her Funeral Service at the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 70 Montvale Ave., Woburn on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10am. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. Gifts in Kaye's memory may be made to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, Endowment Fund , 70 Montvale Ave. Woburn, MA 01801.