Phyllis F. "Chic" Zioze

Phyllis F. Zioze (Tsiatsios) “Chic” 87, of Manchester, died unexpectedly on October 13, 2024. A lifelong resident of the Queen City, Phyllis was born in Manchester on September 30, 1937 to the late Charles and Evelyn (Psaledas) Tsiatsios. After graduating from Central High School in 1955, she earned her BA in Business from UNH in 1959. She recounted her college years fondly and especially enjoyed telling stories about her time in her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. Following college, she worked for her parents’ business, Eastern Refrigeration, for several years. She married her husband, George Zioze, on February 17, 1963, and together they started their own successful business, G&C Restaurant Equipment, where they worked side-by-side for almost 30 years before selling the company and retiring in 1995.  

Despite the rigors of co-running a family business, Phyllis always prioritized her family and was a deeply devoted mother to her two children, Dean and Haidy. A day would not go by when she was not coordinating her kids’ activities (and making sure they were there on time), helping them with their homework, going to a PTO meeting, serving as a chaperone on a fieldtrip, baking a cake for a bake sale, hosting a birthday party or a holiday, making a Halloween costume, planning a family vacation or opening her home to her kids’ many friends (and making sure they were all well fed). She always looked forward to her annual trips to Hampton Beach and Newfound Lake with her family. During these years, Phyllis was also heavily involved with her church, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and the Daughters of Penelope. 

Phyllis loved her family deeply and she was fondly known as YiaYia by not only her grandchildren, but everyone who met her. In more recent years, her five grandchildren were her pride and joy. She was an ever-present part of their lives and was always cheering them on at their sporting events, dance recitals, and graduations. Phyllis loved to garden, and she could often be found in her garden with one or more of her grandchildren picking tomatoes and cucumbers. She was also a prodigious cook and loved spending countless hours in her kitchen preparing traditional Greek meals, including her signature Spanakopita, which she usually had waiting for a grandchild returning from college or after a dance competition and for every birthday. Her delicious food will be missed, but it will continue to be made and enjoyed by her family for generations to come. Phyllis was the consummate hostess, and so looked forward to the holidays when could host family and friends. Even while hosting, Phyllis still managed to be the life of the party with her liveliness and sense of humor, up until her very last day of life. She had a robust social life and she was still close with her Bakersville Elementary School friends, with whom she met on a regular basis. In addition to her passion for her family and cooking, she enjoyed photography, reading, shopping, and spending time at the beach, and she especially loved vacationing in Aruba.  

Phyllis was an exceptionally nurturing, compassionate and supportive human being and worked tirelessly to care for those around her. She is tremendously loved by all. Above all else, she will be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and she will be sorely missed. 

Family includes her husband of 61 years, George K. Zioze of Manchester; two children, Dean G. Zioze and wife Melanie of Rye, and Haidy K. Zioze of Manchester; five grandchildren, Alexis K. Zioze of Boston, Kate P. Zioze of Rye, Jack G. Zioze of Rye, Katarina E. Zioze of Manchester and Sophia F. Zioze of Manchester; a brother in-law, John Zioze and his significant other Lucy Skouteris; two nieces, Evelyn Lanigan and Caryl Shepard and husband Melanie; three nephews, John Mokas and wife Shelly, Deno Mokas and wife Beth and Nicholas Colombos and wife Alexandra; and many grand nieces and nephews, and friends. She was predeceased by both parents; and one brother, John Tsiatsios.

SERVICES: Calling hours are from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St., corner of North St., Manchester, NH 03104. A funeral will take place at 12:00pm on Friday at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St., Manchester, NH 03103. Burial to follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Ave., Manchester, NH. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Making Strides Breast Cancer or St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral.