Andrew Charkales
Andrew George Charkales, 82, passed away peacefully at Greenwich Hospital on October 3, 2021 surrounded by his family, and with his wife and children by his side. Andy was born on February 2, 1939 in Skoura, a small village in Therapnes in Laconia, just south of Sparta, Greece. After WWII, he and his family fled Greece together aboard the SS Independence. Andy and his family arrived in America’s in July 1951 and from there settled in Stamford, CT. Andy graduated from J.M. Wright Technical School as a tool and die maker and retired from DRS Technologies in his seventies.
Andy was devoted to his Greek heritage, his family and especially his grandchildren. Besides being a loving and fierce example of a Spartan warrior for his family and everyone, even strangers, he could also be described as a great story teller, comedian, teddy bear, #1 protector, rock, and simply the kindest man anyone has ever met. He would never say no and would give anyone the shirt off his back. He was the first person to lend a helping hand and everyone’s go-to guy to fix absolutely anything.
If you were lucky enough to have seen his bright smile or heard his beautiful laugh, you would know just how much love Andy had in his heart. It is the same love his beautiful wife, family, and friends will carry with them forever.
Andy is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Jenny (Prattas) Charkales; daughter, Kelly Floreno and her husband Joseph; his son, George Andrew Charkales and his wife Lisa; grandchildren, Julia Rende Charkales and Andrew George Charkales; his sisters, Theresa Charkales and Stella Charkales Rich and her husband Joseph; and nieces and nephews, Kelly Ciraldi, Peter Nowlin and his wife Donna, Paula Palmer and her husband Bryan, Michael Nowlin and his wife Terri, and Elizabeth Wynne and her husband Kris; and grand nieces and nephews. Andy is predeceased by his parents George and Calliope (Mentavlos) Charkales and his brother Peter Charkales.
A funeral procession will be leaving the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 10:30 AM for a funeral service to be celebrated at 11:00 AM at the Church of the Archangels, 1527 Bedford Street, Stamford. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Stamford. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 4:00-8:00PM with a Trisagion to be celebrated at 6:30PM.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory assisted the family with Andrew’s final arrangements. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit cognetta.com or on facebook.com/NicholasFCognettaFuneralHomeCrematory.