Matina Billias

On September 20, 2018, after a long battle with time itself, beloved mother, wife, educator, activist, artist, quilter, hiker, writer, chef,  and as she used to say with pride,  immigrant,  Matina Billias  passed away quietly and with class in her home in Tannersville NY.  Streams of friends and relatives journeyed to see her as she journeyed to her final destination.  Her stoic and cheerful spirit impressed friends and caretakers alike.

Matina was the first in her family to earn a college education, graduating from Brooklyn College with her degree in English Literature, later earning her Masters in English Education.  She taught high school English at Wingate High school in Brooklyn, NY for 19 years before retiring to her beloved mountains with her husband, George in 1973.  She loved the arts and had a background in classical music and she played the piano.  Upon retiring she quickly became involved in community service and activities.  She was the secretary for the Mountain Top Historical Society for many years, a member of the Patchworkers, a walking 'spellcheck' for Black Dome Press, a member of the Mountain Top Gallery committee, the first art gallery in Windham established by the Greene County Council on the Arts.  She was active in local politics.  She and George were a supporters of the Olana Partnership, Catskill Center, local music and arts centers, and most local activist groups and charities, both local and national. 
Her interests were boundless, and she got endless pleasure in hiking our mountains with the hiking group "The Thomas Cole Hiking Club” where she hiked up a mountain every week well into her 80's. She also enjoyed x-country skiing and snowshoeing with George.  No Florida retirement for these two.
She is missed by her children, Athena and Chris Billias, her daughter in law Allison Dietz and all her devoted friends and relatives.