Aspasia Kanabis
Waterford — Aspasia “Essy” Kanabis of Waterford passed away peacefully Aug. 18, 2023, 20 days short of her 100th birthday. She was the oldest child of the late George and Photini Kanabis, born Sept. 7, 1923. She was predeceased by two brothers, John and Theodore; and a niece, Karen Yu. She is survived by two brothers, C. George (Carol) Kanabis and William Kanabis; and several nieces and nephews: Debra, Angela, William Rizzo; A. John, Mary Jean, Robert, Jo Anne and Thomas Vivivito.
She was born and raised in New London, graduating from The Williams Memorial Institute (WMI) with honors in June 1942. Her father wanted her to go to Connecticut College, but by the time of her graduation four brothers had come along and her mother now required her assistance, and her mother prevailed. Eventually she became a real estate agent and then began a career of buying, developing and selling real estate. She enjoyed going to and participating in foreclosure sales. She was especially proud of a tract of land she purchased in Jordan Village on Jordan Cove at a foreclosure sale. She had the property approved for three building lots; had single-family homes built on the lots; leased them and still owned the property at her death. She developed other properties in Waterford in a similar fashion on Lindros Lane and other locations.
Over 20 years ago, she purchased the ASH Building at 316-326 State St. in New London. She claims she purchased the property so that her brother John, a CPA and her brother, C. George, a lawyer, would always have office space. The accounting office is now occupied by John’s son, A. John, and Robert and the lawyer are still there. She also maintained her properties and continued to maintain them until her recent illness. In April of this year, she had installed a new facade and a new roof on the State Street property. She served on certain civic organizations including Waterford Recreation & Parks, the New London Merchants Association and the building committee of the Waterford Community Center for which she received citations.
She was proud of her Greek heritage and was a regular churchgoer involved in the activities of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. She thanked the Lord for the wonderful life he had given her and looked forward to whatever plans he had for her in the future.
Services are private. Donations in her memory can be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 200 Hempstead St., New London, CT 06320 or to Bride Brook Nursing Home Patient Recreation Fund, 21 Liberty Way, East Lyme, CT 06333. Condolences may be left on Aspasia’s memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.