Kiki Kantralis

Kiki Gatzoulas Kantralis, 92, of Corpus Christi,  passed away peacefully on April 26, 2022 with her family by her side.

She was born in Monroe, Louisiana on May 8, 1929 to James and Panagiota Gatzoulas. Kiki attended Neville High School in Monroe. After graduation, she studied Secretarial Science at Northeast Louisiana Junior College and went on to work as a secretary, receiving frequent compliments for her remarkable shorthand skills – a skill she was proud of her entire life.

In 1955, Kiki married Alexander Kantralis and moved to Houston, Texas to begin their life together. In Houston, Kiki became an active member of the Philoptochos at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral where she became well-known for her sweet demeanor and delicious baking.

In 1957, Kiki became a mother and went on to raise four adoring children: Mark, Pam, Karen, and Greg. Kiki devoted her life to being a caring and loving mother and wife. Kiki and Alex made their way back to Monroe, Louisiana in 1984. During their 15 years in Monroe, Kiki provided loving care to her aging parents and was instrumental in opening up the Bagel Bakery with her husband and son. Again, Kiki became known for her delicious baking – this time, her bagels were sought out by many.

In 1999, Kiki and Alex moved to Corpus Christi to be closer to family. Kiki enjoyed spending her time cooking, baking, and adding endless joy to her children and her grandchildren’s lives. She would spend countless hours perfecting her special dishes and filling her grandchildren’s stomachs with her famous desserts, each made with love for those she cherished.

Kiki was an active member of Jackson Woods Presbyterian Church.

Kiki’s faith in God was her guiding light. She lived her faith daily, always thanking God for the gifts she had. Kiki spent her life as a caring, kind, gentle and loving woman.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, James and Panagiota; her son, Mark, and granddaughter, Alicia Immitt.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 66 years, Alexander Kantralis; her brother, Chris Gatzoulas; her children, Pamela Immitt (Jim), Karen Karagas (Mike), and Greg Kantralis (Anna) and her grandchildren, Demetri, Nick (Brittany), and Ally Karagas; Adrian and Angela Immitt; and Macey Kantralis.

Her family expresses endless gratitude to Amanda Carrion, Cindi Perales, Sonia Rodriquez, Kristina Hall, and Tracy Escareno for the loving care in her later years of life and for the compassionate care and love from Edna and Jerry Garza at the end of her life.