Ariadne Skotadi (Kiriacoules) Coules
Panagiota Skotadi lost not one husband, but two. She was left a young widow to raise four children alone – three from her first marriage to Yiorgos Kastoras and years later a daughter from her second to Andreas Skotadis. This daughter, Ariadne Skotadi, was born in Pylos, Messinias in early 1927. Her siblings Dionysios, Vasilios, and Athanasia, tended to her every need – leaving her to feel she was blessed with four parents.
Eventually World War II touched Pylos, shattering the tranquility of the small village. Somber memories would later be recounted of fear-filled days… hiding in a crawlspace under floorboards, praying the invading soldiers would pass them by; a brother dragged from home in the middle of the night, interrogated for days; digging through rubble to locate her niece, Nota, after a family home was bombed.
(Fast forward)
Ariadne dreamed of visiting America, of New York City and the exciting places she had read so much about. Finally, after years on a waiting list, her dream became reality! But Ariadne found the journey to America a long and lonely one. Quickly befriended by the ship’s captain, he moved her to 1st class and seated her at his dining table for the remainder of her trip. The camaraderie of the captain and his staff helped the days pass until finally, Ariadne arrived at the Port of New York aboard the Nea Hellas in April 1951.
An aging aunt and uncle in New Jersey sponsored Ariadne’s entry into the US and welcomed her into their home. Excitement and adventure coursed through Ariadne’s veins! But in no time, she missed her mother, her siblings, and the comfort of her hometown. As she worked at a factory mass-producing ties, she could not concentrate through her tears and longing for those back home.
(Until the handsome Nicholas Kiriacoules entered her life)
Friends of her aunt and uncle, Konstantina (nee Stergiopoulou) and Gus Kiriacoules had previously moved from another village of the Peloponnese to Jersey City. Here they began and raised their family – Anna, Nicholas, and Alexander.
Not long after they met, Nicholas and Ariadne fell in love and realized she would stay with him in the US – for good. They married in 1952 and by late 1953 welcomed their son, Constantine. Seven years later Constantine was joined by a sister, Nora Panagiota.
(Maintaining the culture)
Nicholas and Ariadne faced the challenge of assimilating their children into the American lifestyle yet keeping them connected to their roots and culture. The two worlds clashed at regular intervals: keftedakia and feta in a Candyland lunchbox; Evzonne costumes for Halloween (“why’s he wearing a skirt?!”); pulled from schoolyard games to attend Greek School. In a predominantly non-Greek neighborhood, the traditions of their culture were difficult to maintain, yet they persisted.
Speaking only Greek at home had left young Constantine at a disadvantage in kindergarten. When the teacher reminded everyone to bring in ‘sparkles’ for a project, a whispering Constantine asked the little girl next to him what sparkles were. She replied “you know, they’re pretty, all different colors…” Ahhh, a delighted Constantine knew exactly what she meant! That afternoon he grabbed his mother by the hand to find sparkles at the corner store. The next day, to his horror, he found he had misunderstood. Looking around as his classmates held up sparkles, he hid the colored paper he’d brought under his desk. The sweet little girl, realizing what happened, announced they were sharing sparkles and spared him further embarrassment. As a result, Constantine spoke English with his little sister at home to ensure she would not face the same challenges – and humiliation – as when she went off to school.
Other kids in the neighborhood had family in the area, in neighboring states, or several states away. They would chat regularly; get together for holidays; occasionally vacation together. Most of our family was a continent away. Lengthy phone calls to Greece were too expensive for a modest income, so they were kept brief – more to hear the sound of loved-ones’ voices than to converse. News would be delivered (in painstaking detail!) through long letters handwritten by the kids, to relatives they had not met. When the airmail stationery and envelopes were brought out, we knew all social activities were on hold until the letters were completed and sealed.
In hindsight, the letter writing provided a connection to the ‘other side’. The replies were just as detailed, and filled with such love it practically burst out of the envelope. When Nora finally took her first journey to Greece at age 8, it was not to a land of strangers but into welcoming arms of ‘family back home’. She immediately felt the contrast between her culture and that of her friends’; their families were in closer proximity but the bond exuded by the warmth and love of her family traversed the miles. Cell phones, email and Facebook ensure this bond continues with the next generation.
For over 50 years, Nicholas and Ariadne savored their life together. Surrounded by family and friends, their days were filled with love and laughter. Ariadne eventually became a fashion consultant for Loehmann’s, where customers clamored for her advice. Nicholas was raised in the restaurant business in NYC, but later found his true calling as a banquet manager. His passion was to help people celebrate the most joyful moments in their lives. A harmonica always in his pocket, Nicholas was always ready to celebrate and entertain. But Nicholas and Ariadne also endured many hardships -- none as painful as the loss of their beloved Constantine in 1990.
But love, faith, and dedication prevailed. They grew together and grew old together, always exuding class, dignity and respect. Their appreciation of life never wavered. Eventually blessed with two loving, devoted grandchildren (Ariadne Nicole and Anthony Constantine) this journey -from the small villages of the Peloponnese to the US – lives on in them and truly ends happily-ever-after.
In honor of Ariadne Skotadi Coules
In memory of Nicholas Kiriacoules
