Geo-Karis remembered for a generous heart

Politicians such as Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, judges and other heavy hitters paid their respects to Adeline Geo-Karis at her wake Friday night.

But there were plenty of visitors at the wake who were behind the scenes -- and played a major role -- in the longtime state senator's life. They knew her as a dear godmother, a great friend or someone who helped without expecting recognition.

World War II veteran Bob Miller was among the so-called regular folks who made the trip to a ballroom at Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center, part of Adeline Jay Geo-Karis State Park near Zion.

Miller, 85, of Zion, said he'll never forget how Geo-Karis always tried to help war veterans.

"When she was in the state Senate, she fought for all the veterans bills there were," he said.

Geo-Karis, 89, who died Sunday, not only was a state senator, but also an attorney, Zion mayor and lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserves. A final visitation is set for 9 a.m. today, followed by a Greek Orthodox funeral service at 10 a.m. in the resort's Grand Vista Ballroom.

Visitors got to see snapshots from Geo-Karis' life as they entered the Illinois Ballroom for Friday evening's wake.

Photographs ranged from one with her and President George H.W. Bush to when she was a young woman. There also was a sampling of her collection of 10,000 political pins, such as "Greeks for Reagan/Bush '84" and a mysterious "Re-elect V.D. He's Contagious."

Two of Geo-Karis' friends who met her at Waukegan's St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in the 1940s, Mary Katris and Irene Valavanis, said their friend had a generous heart.

Valavanis, now living in Rochester, N.Y., said Geo-Karis officiated at her wedding.

"She wasn't a phony," Valavanis said. "She was true to her word. She spoke like she meant it."

Katris recalled how Geo-Karis took over the choir when she joined St. Demetrios.

"She really did a lot for the Greek community," said Katris, a Waukegan resident. "She was always there for the younger generation."

Geo-Karis' goddaughter, Anne Sbarounis, traveled from Canton, Ga., for the wake.

Sbarounis, 68, formerly of Waukegan, said Geo-Karis' insistence about the value of a good education prompted her to enroll at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, where she's a junior.

"My life is richer because she was my godmother," Sbarounis said.