Koula J. (Constantine) Fotis

Koula J. Fotis passed away peacefully on April 17, 2024, at The Hattie Ide Chaffee Home in Rumford, RI. She was 102 years and 2 weeks old. She was the beloved wife of the late John A. Fotis. They were married for 57 years, a partnership that was a love story for the ages.

Koula was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on April 3, 1922, to John and Matina (Pallos) Constantine. She graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School, Fort Dodge Community College and then attended Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston, MA.

John and Koula married in 1944 and moved briefly to California. In1946, they moved back to Fort Dodge where John joined the family restaurant business, Constantine's Olympia Café. They raised their two children, Georganne and Andrew, and became an integral part of the Fort Dodge community. In 1970, they moved to Sioux Falls, SD where John continued to work in the restaurant industry. There Koula devoted her life to the Greek Orthodox church, her friends, volunteer work in the schools and various retail positions. She was always the consummate saleswoman! In 2016, she left Sioux Falls and moved to Barrington, RI to live with her daughter and son-in-law, John and Georganne Rodehorst. At the age of 94 Koula made her mark yet again, meeting new friends, new neighbors, and embracing life to the fullest. At The Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, she once more charmed everyone and left a lasting impression.

Koula was predeceased by their infant daughter, Christine, and her siblings, Jim, Louise and George Constantine. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Georganne and John Rodehorst, her son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Marilyn Fotis of Scottsdale, AZ, a special niece, Sandra Constantine, 5 grandchildren, Andrew Rodehorst (Stacey), Steven Rodehorst (Sarah), Michael Rodehorst (Jessica), Coco Sollomi (Mark) and Abby Snow (Ryan). Her 13 great grandchildren were an incredible source of pride and joy to her. Abigail, Alexandra and Alia Rodehorst, John Andrew and Charles Rodehorst, Ella, Axel, Camden and Macie Rodehorst, Matteo and Mita Sollomi, and Henley and Bodhi Snow. She is also survived by loving nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Koula was fiercely proud of her Greek heritage, devout in her Greek Orthodox faith, and an immediate friend to every single person she met. She welcomed countless people to her homes in Fort Dodge and Sioux Falls, always offering Constantine's candy or her delicious homemade koulourakia or baklava. For her, "life was simply DEE-VINE" because of her friends and her church, but her greatest joy was her loving family.

Funeral services will take place at The Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Sioux Falls, SD on May 8, 2024. Visitation will be at 9:00 AM in the church with a Funeral Service at 10:00 AM followed by burial in Woodlawn Cemetery. A celebration of Koula's life will be held in Rhode Island later in the spring.