Chris Louis Zeheralis

Chris L. Zeheralis, 91, of Carmel passed away on October 31. Born October 6, 1926 in Gary, IN to Loukas and Glykeria Zeheralis, he is survived by his bride of 64 years, Mary (Becky) Zeheralis, son Louis C. (Stella) Zeheralis, daughter Gail Zeheralis, grandchildren Lynn and Chris Zeheralis, sister Mary (James) Mammas, sisters-in-law Patricia Sullivan and Catherine Psarakis, first cousin Ann Samouris, his nieces, nephews and friends.

Chris graduated from Gary’s Froebel High and enlisted in the US Army traveling to Japan to serve as a T-5 Specialist in the 77th Infantry Division as part of the US occupation effort in Hokkaido. Decades later, Chris and his son traveled on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC to see the WWII memorial.
Returning from war, Chris established the Roxy Supermarket. In 1953, he met the love of his life, Becky (Fundoukos) at a wedding in Akron, OH. They married in 1954 and began their lives in Gary—always involved in family, church, civic engagement, and events with friends.
In 1960, he joined his brother-in-law, James E. Mammas, forming Mammas & Zeheralis, Inc., a commercial floor covering company serving NW Indiana. They worked together for 30 years until retirement.
Chris was dedicated to his faith and served on the Sts. Constantine & Helen (Merrillville) parish council/building/festival committees. He was a member of AHEPA. He was proud of his heritage and was a founding member of the Aretsou Association of America, a group reuniting the Greek-American ancestors of his parents’ village in Asia Minor. A highlight was a group trip to Aretsou and having an audience with His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew.
He served as Merrillville Rotary Club president and through that, he and Becky opened their home to many foreign exchange students. Always outgoing, Chris did not know a stranger. He enjoyed the lake home he and James Mammas built for their families, water-skiing, playing golf, following the Hoosiers of the 1970s-90s and winters in Florida. He saw his Cubs win it all.
Chris was actively engaged in the activities of his children and grandchildren. The list of home renovation projects he completed of which his children were the beneficiaries is endless.
In 2011, they moved to Carmel to be closer to daughter Gail and friends they had made on their many visits to the Indianapolis area. His grandchildren both followed suit by becoming Butler Bulldogs, making papou one happy grandfather.
Chris was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Francis Walters, brothers-in-law James Mammas, Theodore Fundoukos, Emmanuel Psarakis, and Walter Sullivan, and great nephew Alexander Guletsky.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 3500 W 106th, Carmel, IN 46032. Visitation will be on Friday, November 3 from 4pm to 8pm at the church. A Trisagion service will be held at 7pm. Funeral services are at the church Saturday, November 4 at 11am with additional visitation from 10am. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, 9700 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis. Flanner Buchanan - Carmel handling arrangements.