Pantelis Patestas

Pantelis "Paul" Patestas, 86 of Reading, passed away on Friday, February 11, 2022, at ProMedica Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation in Sinking Spring.  He was born in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey and was the son of the late Yiannis and Paraskevi (Malezidou) Patestas; and preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maria Patestas, who recently passed away and just months shy of their 65th wedding anniversary; and brother, George Patestas.  Surviving is his daughter Voula Tsitsiris (Dimitrios); son, Panagiotis Patestas (Marie); six grandchildren Areti Alafogiannis (Vasilli), Maria Theodoratos (Dennis), Vanessa Brossman (Tiago), Tiffany Tobin (Casey), Yianni and Matthew Patestas; ten great-grandchildren; sister, Yiannoula Mandamadiotou of Athens, Greece, and several nieces, nephews and a God Daughter. Pantelis, an ethnic Greek from Turkey, fled to Greece during the Istanbul Pogrom of 1955, and landed on the small Greek island of Samos and later to Chios where he met his beloved wife, Maritsa.  Pantelis and his family then emigrated from Greece to the United States in 1968; he was a painter for many years with the local union #55 of Reading, PA and even painted at NASA space flight center in 1969, and, with his wife, also owned and operated Mr. Softee Ice Cream Trucks.  Pantelis was a parishioner of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.  Pantelis enjoyed nothing more than to spend time with his loving family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd., Reading, PA 19611.  Interment will follow at Charles Evans Cemetery.  The family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 until 11:00 AM at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Reading, PA 19611 in memory of Mr. Pantelis I. Patestas.   Whelan Schwartz Funeral Home, 444 North 9th Street, Reading is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.whelanshwartz.com