Athena Tuleja

Athena Tuleja (January 7, 1928 – August 14, 2024)

Athena Tuleja went to be with the Lord on August 14, 2024 in Pennsylvania, lovingly surrounded by her three children, Laurine, Cynthia, and Stephen.

Athena was born to Eugenia and Stephen Pappas, who immigrated to America from Sparta, Greece. Athena enjoyed spending her early years with her brother Spero in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where her parents and her uncle's family owned and operated an ice cream parlor, a place of warm neighborhood fellowship as well as cool homemade desserts, which developed in Athena an early love of close-knit community and a strong work ethic that she carried with her into her adult life.

As a young adult, while worshipping at Park Street Church under Dr. Harold Ockenga, she met her beloved Louis; and after she attended Gordon College, she married him in 1955.  God richly blessed their lives together, giving them the joyful experience of serving the Lord along with their church families.

This included 36 years at the Wading River Congregational Church in Wading River, NY; where Athena and Louis were excited to see the movement of God’s gracious Hand, in the lives of the church members as well as in the growth of the church; and in less than a decade of their tenure, the church was able to add a new wing to the existing historic structure. This provided a spacious auditorium as well as a number of classrooms for the expanding needs of the Sunday School, where Athena served for years as a teacher. She also worked as unofficial church administrator before any staff was hired, served as an officer of the Women's Guild, visited (along with Louis) people in the hospital or in their homes, and hosted along with Louis visiting missionaries and other church guests in their own home.

Athena and Louis spent years rebuilding and restoring an 1895 Victorian house in Wading River, for which Athena was commended for her “impeccable taste” by a visitor from B. Altmann’s; even as Athena’s greater creative emphasis was on making the house a loving home for her husband (Louis), children (Laurine, Cynthia, and Stephen), mother (Eugenia Pappas) and the many guests she felt privileged to host.

Athena’s servant's heart extended to her day job, where she worked for decades for the Social Security Administration; her faith expressed in the daily practice of always wanting to treat each claimant with the dignity imputed to all image-bearers of her Lord.

Our hope as we reflect on Athena’s life, and the strength with which she met many joys and challenges, is that those who knew her will be reminded of Jesus’ encouraging words, “All things are possible for the one who believes” (Mark 9:23 NASB).

The funeral service for Athena Tuleja will be held on Saturday, August 24, at the Wading River Congregational Church in Wading River, NY at 11:00 am with visitation in the church parlor at 10:00 am. Following the funeral service, the internment will take place at the Wading River Cemetery.