Keohane Funeral Home

Ioannis H. Kalabokas, a Quincy resident for over 40 years, and formerly of Greece, passed away suddenly on October 27, 2018 at the Boston Medical Center. He was 71.

Born in Euboea, Istiaia, Greece, on March 5, 1947, he was the son of the late Hristo and Marditsa (Gerogiorgaki) Kalabokas and attended local schools.

Ioannis and his wife, Katerina (Metaxioti), married in Greece on March 5, 1978. After they married, the two moved to the United States and made Quincy their home.

Ioannis has worked as a cook for over 30 years. He started at P&P London Pub in Cambridge, until their closing. Ioannis then went to cook for the Wheel House Diner in Quincy for many years. His last assignment was with OB’s Cafe in Quincy, where he worked for over 15 years. Ioannis was a gifted cook and loved to be in the kitchen.

A family man, he was devoted to his wife and daughter. Community and family was very important to Ioannis. Many close friends developed into family over the years and he loved everyone dearly. Ioannis was very kind, loving and fun. He always has a smile on his face and was great to be around. Ioannis was devoted to those he loved. When in a group, he would always listen intently, occasionally adding to the conversation. He enjoyed being present for others and doing things for them.

In his spare time, Ioannis enjoyed fishing, gardening and having ice cream. He had a beautiful garden, made up of both flowers and vegetables. Ioannis had so many different kinds of beautiful flowers and was famous for his delicious tomatoes. No one had a green thumb like Ioannis. He did love his ice cream, though he did not have a specific brand. His only requirement that it have a lot of crunchy candies inside. Occasionally, he would announce to his family that he was going to get a banana split, which was a special treat for him.

Ioannis was a man of faith and lived his life in accordance with the values of faith, hope and love. He cared for his family and raised his daughter with devotion. If you asked, what gave him most enjoyment in life, his answer would have been, my daughter. Ioannis will be missed by all the lives he touched.

Ioannis was the beloved husband of Katerina (Metaxioti) Kalabokas, with whom he shared 40 loving years of marriage. He was the devoted father of Kristina Kalabokas of Quincy and the dear brother of Panagiota Kalabokas of Greece. Ioannis is also survived by many loving extended family members and friends.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 31st at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 119 Common Street, Braintree from 10 AM to 12 Noon followed by a funeral service at 12 Noon. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with interment at Pine Hill Cemetery, Quincy.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ioannis may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.