For Evangelia H. Moniodis, most days were whirlwinds of activity.
The Highlandtown resident and volunteer would pick up chicken and help cook it for Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, drive an elderly neighbor to a doctor's appointment, visit the sick or attend a meeting of the Philoptohos Society, a charitable and civic organization.
"She refused to slow down and was one of the best known of that band of Greek ladies in Highlandtown who are always responding to the needs of the community," said a cousin, George Moniodis of Catonsville. "She was a very gracious lady, who liked people and had a generosity of spirit."
Mrs. Moniodis, who lived in the area known as Greektown since immigrating 50 years ago from her native Greece, died of respiratory failure Monday at St. Agnes Hospital. She was 70.
Until her health began to fail, she was seldom at home, spending hours at the wheel of her 1990 brown GEO Prizm, helping the needy and others.
"She never really slept and kind of existed on catnaps," said a son, Steve Moniodis of Highlandtown.
"Every Monday, she was picking up chicken, and then the ladies prepared it for Our Daily Bread. The rest of the week, in addition to helping the needy, she was involved with her committee work at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church," the son said.
Marion Kampanaris, a longtime friend who lives on Oldham Street, got Mrs. Moniodis involved with the Philoptohos Society many years ago. "She was very conscientious, and if there was a need, she was there," Mrs. Kampanaris said.
According to Mrs. Kampanaris, the society, which has 200 members, also collects funds and clothes for victims of disasters throughout the nation.
"The society was really [Mrs. Moniodis'] second family," she said.
Proud of her Greek heritage, Mrs. Moniodis planted fig trees in the yard of her Greektown residence as a reminder of her childhood home in Vessa on the island of Hios, where she was born and grew up.
"She had very little formal education and insisted that we go on to college. She really placed a high value on education," said Steve Moniodis.
Her husband, William J. Moniodis, whom she married in 1951, owned the old Charles Restaurant in the 1300 block of N. Charles St. He died in 1982.
She was a communicant of St. Nicholas Church, Ponca Street and Eastern Avenue, where services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
She is survived by three other sons, James Moniodis of Roland Park, Anthony Moniodis of Forest Hill and Stamatios Moniodis of Perry Hall; and six grandchildren.
Pub Date: 5/07/97
