Angelica Trussas was born on the island of Zakynthos, Greece in a small village called Lagopodo, on January 8, 1922 to Gerasimos and Eugenia Trussas.   She was the youngest of four children.  Her siblings were Sophia, Maria, and Dionysios.  Her father died in a tragic accident when Angelica was 12.  Life was difficult, but through hard work and love they made it through World War II, when her island was occupied by German and Italian forces.

Angelica was married in 1950 in Zakynthos.  Her husband, Tommy, was thirty-three years her senior and had been in California for many years, striving for the quintessential American dream. Tommy returned to Zakynthos, where Tommy's brother introduced him to Angelica.  Angelica left Zakynthos when she was 28, the only one of her siblings to do so, and immigrated to America to move with Tommy into his home in Pittsburg, California, where she quickly adjusted to life in America.  She studied hard, learned English and became a U.S. citizen.  In 1953, a new church was built in Pittsburg, called St. Dionysios, the patron saint of Zakynthos, where Angelica worked and served for the next 47 years.  She loved the church and was in the Philoptochos and Mother's Club, as well as the head of the kitchen during every food festival where thousands were served.  The newly immigrated Greek community in Pittsburg soon became her second family, with many celebrations, parties, and social events that brought everyone together.

Several years after her arrival in America, Angelica's only daughter, Vickie was born, whom she doted upon every day until her passing.  Unfortunately, Angelica's husband Tommy died in 1967.  For the next five years, Angelica and Vickie lived alone and life was difficult at times for a widowed immigrant and her only daughter. Fortunately, Angelica met and married Jimmy Krouses in 1971, who was also a widower.  Jimmy, who was loved by all in the Greek Community in Pittsburg, California, treated Vickie as his own daughter.  In 1977, Vickie married Greg and they had three children Angela, Diana, and Gregory, who Angelica and Jimmy took care of while Greg and Vickie worked.  Angelica and Jimmy were the best grandparents and the children enjoyed many fun times, love, laughter and sleepovers with their "Yiayia" and "Papou."

In 1993, Vickie, Greg, and the family moved to the D.C. area due to a work transfer for Greg.  Angelica and Jimmy stayed behind in California but to everyone's excitement, decided to move to Maryland in 2000 to be near the family.  Jimmy died in 2007 and Angelica lived by herself until three years ago when she moved in with Greg and Vickie.   She was surrounded by Greg, Vickie, Angela, Diana, Gregory and then four great grandchildren, Owen, Jackson, Nolan and Madeline, who lovingly called her "Big Yiayia."   Her grandson in laws Patrick and Robby loved her as well and she loved them too with her big heart.

Angelica is still loved and remembered by friends, "koumbari" and relatives in California and Greece, as well as here in Maryland.  She was a strong and resilient woman, who worked tirelessly in the church, loved her family and died happy and peacefully surrounded by those she loved and who loved her.  We will honor her and hold onto all the fond memories that we have.  Her memory will live on forever.