Sia Hanges

Sia Hanges, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, age 89, passed away May 28th, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family. She is survived by her daughter, Thoula H. Mallory and husband Gary, grandchildren Maria Mallory Diaz and husband Bernardo, Paul Mallory and fiancée, Kate Lee, Anna Mallory and partner, Jerid Ortiz, and her brothers, Simos Taxiarchos, and Andrew Taxiarchos and wife, Aliki. She also has two great-grandchildren, Aida and Santiago Diaz. Sia was preceded in death by her husband, Gus (Kosta) Hanges, her son, Bill K. Hanges her parents, Yiannis and Sophia Taxiarchos, her sister, Maria Zigiris, and her sister-in-law, Kiki Taxiarchos.

Sia was born in Lamia, Greece on May 15, 1935 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1958. At the age of 23, and with a two-year old in tow, she left behind her native land, her language, friends, and family and traveled to America to join her husband, Kosta, who left two years earlier in order to work and send money home. Together, they worked very hard to begin a new life in America. They opened a restaurant in Grants, New Mexico, the Franciscan Cafe which was on Route 66. Sia learned to speak English by interacting with her employees and customers. She was also very skilled as an owner and manager of the business. It became very successful. Central to her life was her faith and her church, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, therefore; she and her husband commuted regularly to Albuquerque to attend what was then the only Greek Orthodox Church in the state. She has always been very active in her church. She served as president of the Daughters of Penelope and as a member of the Ladies Philoptochos. She also cooked for the community and baked pastries for the Grecian Festival. Cooking and baking was one of her passions. She often said that "her kitchen was her happiness." She was a phenomenal cook. She was also a great gardener and used many of the things she grew in her cooking. She shared the abundance with friends and neighbors. Greek oregano was always at the top of that list.

Sia was also a very talented seamstress. She made many of her own clothes and could alter just about anything. All her work looked very professional. She had a strong work ethic and everything she did, she did well. In 1964, she proudly became a U.S. cititzen and always maintained a strong love for both countries, Greece and the U.S.A. Though she spoke in broken English, she had a way of connecting with people because she spoke the universal language of love. She loved people. She will always be remembered that way.

Trisagion will be at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 at French Lomas Chapel, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112 Funeral Service will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 5th, 2024 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 308 High St. SE, Albuquerque, NM Internment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 308 High St. SE, Albuquerque NM 87102.