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Kyriacos Costa
Born: 11/7/1928
Died: 8/8/2026
Age: 97
Community: Flint , MI
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Kyriacos “Chuck” Costa, beloved husband, father, Papou, Theo, and Nouno, of Flint, age 97, peacefully passed away Saturday, August 8, 2026, at his residence.
Funeral service will be held at 11am Friday, August 14, 2026, at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 2245 East Baldwin Road, Grand Blanc. Father Peter Bistolarides officiating.
Visitation will be held from 5-8pm Thursday, August 13, 2026, with a Trisagion service at 7pm at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint and 10am Friday until the time of service at the church.
Burial in Evergreen Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Grand Blanc.
Kyriacos was born on November 7, 1928, to Constantinos and Denora Kostoura, in the mountain village of Kythrea, Cyprus. Growing up in the neighborhood of Sirkania, he was surrounded by a proud and tight-knit community, where life was centered around the family’s vegetable gardens, olive groves, fruit trees, and flour mills powered by the waters of the Kefalovrysos spring.
After he completed high school, he was not able to find steady work in the main city of Nicosia, and decided to come to America. His father had a first cousin, Charlie Gregory, who had immigrated to the U.S., in Flint, Michigan and had a successful restaurant named “Gregory’s” on Flushing Road, near Ballenger. Charlie sponsored Kyriacos in obtaining his visa to the United States, and he set off for America with little money in his pocket. He sailed from Pireaus on a ship named the “S.S. LaGuardia”, arriving on Ellis Island on January 11, 1951.
Kyriacos worked at Gregory’s Restaurant for six years before purchasing Coopers Eat Shop, on North Saginaw Street. His business partner was his second cousin and lifelong friend, Nick Georgiou. Together they later also owned the Cyprus Restaurant at Miller and Linden Roads, East Side Coney Island on Franklin Avenue, and the Roadside Restaurant at the point of S. Saginaw and S. Dort Hwy in Grand Blanc. After selling Roadside, he worked at Lucille’s on Fenton Rd., and at Archie’s in Davison, retiring at the age of 72.
He proudly became a naturalized Citizen of the United States on May 23, 1957. After having purchased his first restaurant, and his first home, he determined it was time for him to get married. In the summer of 1958, while visiting relatives on the Island of Rhodes, he was introduced to Vasilia Kariki. They were soon engaged, and within a few weeks married at the Church of the Annunciation, in Rhodes. Together they returned to Flint, and started their new life and family.
Kyriacos and Vasilia’s devotion to their family was evident in everything they did. They prioritized doing things for others, before themselves. As parents, and grandparents, they always emphasized the value of education, the importance of treating all people as equals and lovingly.
After retirement, he enjoyed working in his vegetable garden, tending to the fig tree in the backyard, shopping at Meijer, and his daily walks with friends at Courtland Center. He was extremely proud of, and adored all his grandchildren, and enjoyed spending time with them, and sharing the stories of his life with them.
He is survived by his children and spouses; Dino and Stephanie Costa, Kathy and Mike Clinton, John and Laura Costa, his grandchildren; Kyriacos, Stephen, Mary, Andrew and Skye, Leah, Rachel, Christina and Sean Lennox, and his great-grandchild Callahan Lennox. Also surviving is his sister Irini, brother Panayiotis, many loving nieces, nephews, god-children, and relatives in the U.S, Germany, Greece, and Cyprus.
He was preceded in death by his wife Vasilia, his parents, Constantinos and Denora, his brothers Pantelis, Giorgos, and Gregoris, brother-in-law Savvas, sister-in-law Stella, and infant brother Andreas.
Special thanks to all who helped care for him in the last few years. Especially grandson Stephen Costa, caregiver Tasia Kalemis, neighbors Tony and Dawn Cuevas, neighbors Liliana and Mike Haralambous, the staff from Heart-to-Heart Hospice, especially Nurse Shannon.
Kyriacos will be remembered as a man of few words, a hard worker, for his kindness, devotion to his family, and the love he shared with all who knew him.
May His Memory be Eternal.
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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8/13/2026 |
| Time: |
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5:00 PM |
| Visitation will be held from 5-8pm Thursday, August 13, 2026, with a Trisagion service at 7pm at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint and 10am Friday until the time of service at the church. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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8/14/2026 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
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| Location: |
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Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
2245 East Baldwin Road
Grand Blanc, MN 48439Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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