Antigone (Ann) Bisbas Rellas

Antigone (Ann) Bisbas Rellas, of Naples, Florida, fondly known as “Yiayia,” passed away at age 97 on May 30th, 2021. Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, Ann was the daughter of Greek immigrants, Antone Bisbas and Hariklia Kalivas. She was a proud Greek-American sharing in her parents’ culture from Mt. Olympus, and Siatista, Greece. Ann grew up in a loving home with her parents and three siblings, including her older brother Jim and younger sisters Kay and Cleo. Ann graduated from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She met the love of her life and future husband, the late Stephen “Steve” James Rellas, while at UNH. They were married in 1949 and shared 67 wonderful years of marriage. Ann loved helping people; whether in her career as a social worker or while providing advice to her four children, their friends, and her nieces and nephews. She was a great listener and had a wonderful way of guiding you to where you needed to be. Ann was a trailblazer for women and supportive of everyone in her life. When first married, Ann served her community as a social worker in the state hospital of New Hampshire, then in Deland, Florida. She and Steve next moved to Akron, Ohio, and began their family. They had four beautiful children: James, Lea, Stephen, and Priscilla. They imparted upon their children a love for travel, service, and pride for their Greek culture and heritage. In Akron, Ann continued serving others by founding the Society for Crippled Children. Ann, Steve, and family lived in various places across the country. including Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey; Saratoga, California; and finally Madison, Connecticut, where they stayed for many years. In Connecticut, Ann pursued a new passion and became a successful real-estate agent. She was active in the Greek-Orthodox church and a dutiful member of the Philoptochos in all the communities she lived in. She continued to serve and care for others as a godmother to 12 children. Ann and Steve traveled the world with their family and many friends. She was a phenomenal cook and had a passion for art. Ann was very creative; in addition to her cooking and baking, she also loved to paint and make unique art pieces. She was an avid horseback rider and animal lover as well, passions which she shared with her children. Ann spent the majority of her later years in Naples, Florida, where she was loved by many and served as a volunteer teacher in her free time. Ann and Steve were founding members and generous donors of St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Naples. Ann and Steve loved life in Naples and hosting family and friends, almost as much as they loved travelling across the states to visit them in return. Ann lived for her family, some of whom she leaves behind. She is survived by her sister Cleo Neary of Delray Beach, Florida; her four children, Dr. James S. Rellas and his wife Nordy of Plano, Texas; Lea K. Rellas of Ft. Myers, Florida; Dr. Stephen A. Rellas and his wife Vicki of Sherborn, Massachusetts; and Priscilla Rellas Scoco and her late husband David of Lake Forest, Illinois. Ann has 11 doting grandchildren: Dr. Jacqueline Rellas Keedy, Dr. Stephen Dale Rellas, James Cory Rellas, Stephen Andrew Murphy, Nicholas Antone Rellas, Dr. Aleka Nicole Scoco, Danielle Julia Rellas, Victoria Gayle Rellas, Alexander James Murphy, Anton Prescott Scoco, and Chandler Antigone Scoco. She also has six precious great-grandchildren: Gwen, Hugh, Dean, and Arnold Keedy; and Olivia and Kate Rellas. May her memory be eternal. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 4th from 11:30-1:00pm at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, 7100 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, Florida 34109. Funeral services will follow at 1:00pm with Father Demetrios J. Mott officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Palm Royale Cemetery in Naples, Florida. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to St. Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church 7100 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, Florida 34109. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

Antigone (Ann) Bisbas Rellas

October 15, 1923 - May 30, 2021