June 12, 1933 – December 8, 2024
Born Panagiota Belenis to Greek immigrants Paraskeva and Eleni (Kakridas) Belenis in the heart of San Francisco’s Greektown, Marian passed away peacefully at 91 with her daughters at her side. Marian’s early years were storied with the trials and tribulations of being a child of the Great Depression. Unable to speak a word of English, she enrolled in school and quickly mastered the English language, which began Marian’s lifelong love of school and learning.
At a young age, Marian and her younger brother Bill lost both of their parents. In 1944, she and Bill went to live with their Thea Katina in Richmond, where they learned to work the Victory Garden. Living in the east bay city, the siblings gained two big brothers, Bill Kolaites and Clare Karahalios, a loving sister-in-law, Alyce (Karahalios), and a strong circle of lifelong friends.
Marian graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1955 with a degree in English and began a career as an elementary school teacher in the Richmond School District. As a young woman, she attended many Greek gatherings in the Bay Area. At one of these events, Marian met Gust Zagorites, and soon after, he became her husband. The two were married for 49 years until Gust’s passing in 2011.
After marrying Gust, Marian left Richmond in 1962 and moved to Cloverdale, where the two raised four daughters. Marian enjoyed hosting summer barbecues, birthday parties, and swimming at Boucher’s. She could sew just about anything and loved to bake delicious cookies and pies, all made in a warm and inviting home for her family and friends. As the girls grew, Marian returned to the workforce at the Cloverdale Library, where she enjoyed her second career working for 21 years as a library technician.
In her retirement, Marian continued to sew, garden, and bake. She also took up photography, focusing on scenic views and beautiful flowers. With Gust, she traveled about Sonoma County in search of the best fresh fruit to make delicious jams and pies for family and friends. She stayed involved in the library and began researching her family history, writing a short story of her childhood memoirs. Throughout her life, Marian had a great love of the theater and enjoyed taking family and friends to see the latest musicals performing in the area.
Marian loved taking road trips with Gust to visit their daughters. They often traveled with the Elderhostel program, experiencing the beauty of the West Coast. In her later years, she volunteered at the Cloverdale Historical Society and enjoyed dining her way around Sonoma County with the Red Hat Ladies.
Marian was preceded in death by her husband Gust, brothers Bill Belenis, Bill Kolaites, and Clare Karahalios, along with nephew Bobby Karahalios. She is survived by her daughters Elene Zagorites, Kia Zagorites, Katerena (David) Linfield, and Deana (Tom) Chiarchianis, along with several nieces and nephews.
Services were held on December 28th St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Cathedral in Santa Rosa. Memorial contributions: Cloverdale Senior Center, 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, CA 95425
