Steve Andrew Sephos born on August 8, 1927, passed away on March 15, at his home in Manteca.  He was in the thoughtful, loving care of family members and Hospice of San Joaquin at his passing.

   Mr. Sephos is preceded in death by his two brothers, Thomas and John, his sister Eleni and his former wife Irene.

Born on the Island of Crete, Greece to Maria and Andreas Sifoyanakis, Mr. Sephos served in the Greek Resistance during WWII after-which he became a policeman in Athens.  He immigrated to the United States in 1954. Arriving in New York, he worked his way through the country working as a window washer in Chicago and a sheep herder in Colorado and Utah.  He arrived in Manteca in late 1955. He decided to make Manteca his home, when he met and married the lovely Irene Gikas.

   While working at Manteca Frozen Foods, he started his farming career. He grew melons, grapes, almonds, cherries, and olives in the Manteca area for nearly 70 years. He attended St. Basil’s Greek Orthodox Church of Stockton.  An agriculturalist at heart, Steve loved the outdoors, enjoyed raising rabbits, and tending to his garden. Steve enjoyed traveling especially back to visit his native Greece and longtime friends in Utah.

    He is survived by his five children, Andrew Sephos (Toni), George Sephos (Sandy), John Sephos (Amanda), Maria Sephos-Cortale (Bob) and Tom Sephos (Donna). Steve was blessed with 13 grandchildren - Ouronia Sephos, Laurin Bharvani (Dhanesh), Zoe Sephos, Andrew Sephos, Yanni Sephos, Michael Sephos (Trisha), Matthew Sephos, Anna Sephos, Nikko Sephos (Lorna), Steven Sephos, Layla Sephos, Vincenzo Cortale, and Marcello Cortale as well as his three great-grandchildren Willa and Rory Sephos and Jude Sephos. He is also survived by his longtime companion Wendy Whisenhunt.

   Visitation will be Thursday, March 23, 2023 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a  Trisagion will follow at 6 p.m. and the funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 24. Both services will be held at P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home, 290 N. Union Rd., Manteca. He will be laid to rest at East Union Cemetery.

   Memorials in Steve’s name may be made to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 920 W. March Lane, Stockton, 95207 or Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton, 95204.

For direct condolences to the family and to view the Live feed visit Steve’s tribute page at www.plfryandson.com

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Tuesday, March 21, 2023