Harriet Drivas Obituary - Poughkeepsie Journal - Poughkeepsie Journal

Harriet Drivas

Poughkeepsie, New York – Harriet Drivas, 98, of Poughkeepsie, NY, beloved wife of the late George J. Drivas, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 26, 2022, with her family by her side. Born in Pittsfield, MA, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Olga Gregoropoulos Demos.

Harriet was a resident of Poughkeepsie for 75 years. She is survived by her children Karen Drivas Bennici and her husband Joseph of Marlborough, CT, Gail Drivas Noffsinger and her husband Neil of Spring,TX, and her grandchildren Melissa Floyd and her husband, Nathan, Brian Bennici, Jared Bennici and his wife, Lesley, Gregory Bennici, Adam Noffsinger and Stacia Kinman and her husband, Jason. She is also survived by her greatgrandchildren, Madison Floyd, Wyatt Kinman, Ethan Bennici and Avery Bennici and by her dear and devoted friend and companion, Michael Makar as well as several nieces, nephews, special friends and neighbors.

She was predeceased by Kanella Pechewlys Drivas, her mother-in law, with whom Harriet and George shared their home, her two brothers, George Demos and Peter Demos and her sister, Frances (Sherry) Cholakis Wright.

She was graduated from Pittsfield High School, Pittsfield, MA, in 1941. Harriet and her husband, George J. Drivas, were married September 14, 1947, in St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsfield, MA, and moved to Poughkeepsie to begin their lives together. At that time, she joined George in the ownership and operation of George’s Market on Main Street in Poughkeepsie until the time of George’s retirement in 1985.

Harriet’s lifelong career in insurance began at The Berkshire Life Insurance Company, in Pittsfield, MA. In Poughkeepsie she joined the George B. Wood Insurance Agency. After an enjoyable career of nearly forty years, Harriet retired from the Emery and Webb Insurance Agency, Poughkeepsie, in 1990.

She was a faithful parishioner of the Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church, Poughkeepsie, as well as a member of the ladies philanthropic organizations, The Daughters of Penelope and The Philoptochos Society. For several years in her retirement Harriet very much enjoyed actively volunteering at the Vassar Hospital Gift Shop as well as serving as a volunteer ambassador at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.

Harriet was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, a loving and loyal friend and a respected colleague. Her kindness, compassion, gentle spirit, quiet strength and abiding love were hallmarks of her essence and touched the lives of all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to especially thank Harriet’s dedicated and compassionate caregivers, Maureen Nelson and Tammy Lydon for their love, dedication, and most special care as well as Harriet’s loving and supportive friends and neighbors, her Fountain Place family, Alexis Miller, Frank and Arlene Zehnacker, Tinuke and Tola Odugbesan, Doyin,Pelumi and Gbenga by whom she was blessed and without whom Harriet’s life on Fountain Place would not have been the same. The family would also like to express its sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses, home health aids and volunteer staff at Hudson Valley Hospice for their unwavering compassionate commitment to Harriet’s care.

Friends may call on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church, 140 South Grand Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY. Interment will follow at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions in Harriet’s name may be made to the Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church, 140 South Grand Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603 or to the Dementia Society of America at https://www.dementiasociety.org For online condolences please visit www.doylefuneralhome.com

Posted online on March 27, 2022

Published in Poughkeepsie Journal