Obituary: Peggy J. Strate

Peggy J. Strate
Aug. 11, 1916~Dec. 5, 2008
Peggy J. Strate, 92, of Meeker died Dec. 5, 2008, at Pioneers Hospital.
Paraskevi “Peggy” J. Strate was born on Aug. 11, 1916, in Heraclion, Crete, Greece to Vasilie and Cruesula Bourbou-thakis. She was one of eight children. She left her family at the age of 17 to come to the United States of America as the bride of John George Strate. After a honeymoon through Europe, she and John arrived by train to Antioch, Neb., where John owned and operated the Sandhills Supply Co. While in Antioch, she had three children (her firstborn died at birth), George and Bill. It was very hard for Peggy as she spoke no English and there were no Greek speaking women living in Antioch. She was so strong and had a desire to learn so she soon was speaking English and learned to cook. John had hired a cook to assist her because as she would say, “I didn’t even know how to boil water.” She didn’t like a “man” in her kitchen, so she quickly learned to cook. She became an excellent cook and soon was sharing her “treats” with everyone, making friends as she went.
In 1941, upon her insistence of not wanting to raise her children in a rural community, (Antioch later became a “ghost town”) the family of four moved to Scottsbluff, Neb. There they started Strate’s Market and had two more children, Christine and Christopher. She participated in the “American Dream” and insisted on education for herself and for her children. During these years she was active in the Philoptochos Women’s Society, the church choir and other activities in the Greek Orthodox Church in Bayard, Neb. She helped with the PTA in the children’s schools and was a supporting “room mother.” She always had time for activities pertaining to her children and would always offer to help with “goodies” and support for the teachers.
In 1965, John passed away leaving Peggy at the age of 49 to continue the business. In 1966 she returned to her homeland for the first time since leaving as a bride in 1934. She and her son Chris visited her surviving siblings and their families and her 93-year-old father who lived to be 96. Upon returning from the trip, she sold the business, the family home in Scottsbluff and moved to Wheat Ridge, Colo., to be closer to her children. George, Bill and Chris lived in Denver and Christine lived in Meeker, along with their families. She worked in food service in different areas and many will remember her for her fabulous cooking and baking and her willingness to share her product and her skills by teaching others. She was a member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and did her part in the Philop-tochos and other church activities, always willing to help and remaining strong in her faith.
In 2004, she moved to Meeker where she made many friends and made an impact on those around her.
She loved her family and was so proud of each and every one of them. She is survived by her children, George and his wife Charlene of Vail, Christine and her husband Gus Halandras and Chris and his wife Peggy, all of Meeker, nine grandchildren Lisa (John), Leslie (Tim), John Cesko; Jamie (Sam), John Paul, Regas, John (Tawny), Pegge Marie, John (Kirstie) and 12 great-grandchildren as well as one sister and her daughter-in-law, Elaine. She is preceded in death by her husband and one son, Bill.
A Trisigion Service was held Monday from Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Denver with a funeral service held on Tuesday. Interment was made in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge. Cochran Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the local arrangements.