Aspasia ("Space") Chrones died peacefully on Thursday, March 23, 2023, after a long, valiant battle with dementia.  Throughout her dementia she continued to exhibit grace, kindness and humility, the qualities she valued most and passed on to her children and grandchildren.   From the gatekeeper to the mailman, from the customer service rep to the grocery clerk, Space took the time to create relationships and make people feel special.

Space proudly held a teaching degree from DePaul University. As a teacher, she championed the underdogs and helped students at all levels achieve their potential.  After leaving teaching to raise her children, she could be found daily at her husband's side helping with his medical practice.  Later she returned to teaching as a substitute teacher in Oak Brook School District 53.  She also brought her positivity and creativity to her role as a volunteer in many capacities from art aid to softball coach.   In her later years, Space returned to her love of dance by taking ballroom dance lessons and participating in ballroom dancing events across the city, developing a close-knit group of friends in the process.

Space and her husband, Constantine, met in Chicago and were married in 1959.  They shared a love of travel, which took them all around the world together.  But Space's true passion was family and her most treasured roles were Mom and Yiayia.  She passed along to her children her wonderful perspective on life.  She believed that life was meant to be lived with appreciation and enjoyment of every moment.  She approached life lessons with humor.  Her children remember with fondness and a chuckle that Space taught them the importance of manners by offering the following reminder, "After all, what if the Queen invited you to tea?"

Space's impact on her grandchildren was immeasurable.  She was their chauffeur, grill cook, cheerleader, best friend and confidante.   Space's grandchildren know that Yiayia, instilled in them their understanding of the importance of kindness, treating others with respect, working hard and being true to themselves.  But what they treasure most is their memories of the crazy fun times they had together.  Yiayia could (and did) turn simple yogurt cups into a bowling alley in her kitchen; she turned her dining room table into a ping pong table using books as paddles; and she held talent shows in her family room.  When they stayed overnight at her house, bedtimes didn't matter (contrary to their parents' instructions), and she'd cook burnt butter noodles and make stacks of waffles overflowing with syrup at midnight.  As her grandchildren learned, Yiayia's coffee cup was always full, and her glass was never half empty. But most importantly, they learned that three words, "Sorry" and "Thank You," used generously can melt hearts and meld new friendships.

To know Space was to know love, light, laughter, warmth, optimism, creativity, imagination, and kindness. To know Space was to know radiant beauty, poise, grace, dignity, pride, overwhelming generosity and endless energy.  And to know Space was to know that magic is real.  The best way to remember Space in our hearts is to live by her example. So, save your yogurt cups, eat waffles at midnight, dance like nobody's watching and fill your coffee cup to the brim.

Beloved wife of Constantine Chrones. Devoted and loving mother of Lambros (Lisa) Chrones, Maria (Steve) O'Donnell, Eurydice (Chris) Nelson, and Dina (Nick) Mansour. Proud grandmother of Luke (Adriana) and Xenia Mansour, Jack (Alexis) and Riley O'Donnell, Aspasia, Lily, and Lennon Chrones, Sophia and Constantine (Gus) Nelson. Cherished great grandmother of Emilia Mansour and Rory O'Donnell. Dearest sister of the late George and the late Dino Pavlakos and loving sister-in-law to Jean Pavlakos and Margot Demopoulos.

All are asked to meet Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 601 S. Central, Chicago for Visitation from 9:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home. For funeral info 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L.