Jerrie Elias

Jerrie Elias
Jerrie Elias, 87, went home to be with the Lord Friday, August 17, after a long life of dedication to her church, family, and profession, driven by the strong values and work ethic instilled by her parents Leo and Rose Elias.
Born 1931 in Lorain, she grew up in the Akron area, graduating from Manchester High in 1949. She began her career as a medical assistant, then took advanced coursework to transcend into hotel management, advertising, and public relations, handling major responsibilities in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Akron. These included director of sales at the prestigious Marina Hotels in California. Later she was a loving nanny for many families in Akron.
A lifelong member of Akron St. George Orthodox Church, Jerrie was active in the youth movement, then went on to work with the Ladies Society, as well as doing voluntary office work. She was long active in the Akron Orthodox Ladies Society.
A loving soul, she became the "Auntie Mame" for her young nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, showering them with love, attention and understanding, and encouraging them to excel and achieve. In July 2005 she co-chaired in Akron the Elias family reunion which brought together some 200 family members who came from all parts of America as well as Lebanon, the country of the family's origins
Jerrie was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Rose; her sisters, Eileen (Bill) Hanna and Betty (Leo) Jacob; and brothers, first Robert, then Norman and George, who passed away three months ago. Surviving to cherish her memory are sisters-in-law, Dolores, Alice, Miriam, and Beverly Elias; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family throughout the Akron area and beyond.
Services will be held 11 a.m. WEDNESDAY at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 3204 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333, Fr. John Al Assaf officiating. Entombment Lakewood Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Building Fund. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)