Chrysanthe Barnes' Obituary
Chrysanthe Barnes was born at home to Polimnia and Ioannis Kiosse. She was born in the Macedonian village of Iliokomi on February 5, 1942 during the Bulgarian occupation of Greece in World War II. Her last days were spent consulting with our beloved Father Anthony to ensure she properly prepared to meet Christ, our Father. Chrysanthe left this world on March 14, 2025, to meet her Maker and family who preceded her in death. She died at home, as she wished, surrounded by her family near and far. Her daughter, Vivian, and other close to her can testify that Chrysanthe lived a courageous life, full of optimism, with a tiny heart that easily made room to love everyone she met.
Chrysanthe was a devout member of the Eastern Orthodoxy and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. She was a member of the Philoptochos Society, the Daughters of Penelope, a volunteer at Greek festivals, and made yearly wreaths for Orthodox Easter.
During World War II, Chrysanthe’s father, Ioannis, was a prisoner of war in Bulgaria. As fate would have it, he could sing Byzantine Chants so Beautifully that his life was spared. After the family was reunited and they moved to Drama, Greece, Chrysanthe lived a blessed life with her family who held weekly shows for their neighbors where she sang and danced. Chrysanthe was a natural tomboy and a Girl Scout. Her family was poor and she was discouraged from going to high school. Against her father’s wishesChrysanthe tested into high school, where she thrived in Latin, French, Archaic Greek, Modern Greek, Philosophy, Classic Literature, and Mathematics. Furthermore, as expected, she read every book banned by her teachers. Chrysanthe naturally excelled in many things, including completing high school with very little studying. After high school, she went to Athens to study cosmetology. When Chrysanthe was offered an apprenticeship to study in France, her family was unable to support her studies and encouraged her to marry. She rebelled and went to work in Germany where she met Wiley Barnes and fell in love at first sight.
Chrysanthe and Wiley Barnes were married on January 7, 1964 in Germany. To this union, two children were born, Vivian and John. Over the years, as she raised her children, she continued to remain an active volunteer to help other military wives and to support their children as a den leader. She never knew a stranger, as they say, and she made time to develop her interests and talents in community organizing, beauty consulting, flower arranging, gardening, sewing, and cooking. She loved people and always had parties and a household of friends from multiple cultures. Chrysanthe ensured that her children explored their interests and benefited from her knowledge of Greek and German and French and her classical education. Her primary occupation was a homemaker extraordinaire and a friend to all. Chrysanthe’s family became accustomed to strangers and families who briefly lived our her home until they could find their own way. She was a natural philanthropist and did everything with a classic style. Her greatest joy was the birth of her granddaughter, Sarah Chrysanthe Hanson. She spent many years traveling around the world to be a doting Yiayia (Greek grandmother) to Sarah, and naturally continue to make many friends in this process. She worked briefly, when needed, to ensure Vivian was able to complete college. Chrysanthe challenged Vivian intellectually and supported her path to becoming a Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She knew how to keep her daughter strong and was Vivian’s primary teacher and educator in knowing how to connect with, encourage, and motivate people who were suffering.
Chrysanthe’s optimism was infectious, and those around her spoke often about whether her essence and her lust for life could be captured and replicated. Alas, she entered and left this world as a bright shining comet, and she surely left those who knew her well honoring her life, covered in stardust.
Chrysanthe Barnes was preceded in death by her husband, Wiley Barnes, son, John Barnes, mother, Polimnia Kiosse, father ,Ioannis Kiosse, great aunt, Efthalia Vosiki, grandmother, Chrysanthe Tsolakoglou, and grandfather, Petros Tsolakoglou. Chrysanthe is survived by her daughter, Vivian Dinnel, granddaughter, Sarah Chrysanthe Hanson, son-in-law, Dr. Dale Dinnel, brother, General Konstantine Kiosse, sister-in-law, Polyxeni Kiosse, nephews, Ioannis and Argirios Kiosse, numerous god-daughters and god-sons, and countless extended family members and friends. May her rest in peace be eternal.
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