Obituaries

Aliki Asime died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, January 9, 2026, after a long, challenging battle with dementia. She was born in Lidorikion, Greece, on May 19, 1933, to Konstantine and Asimina Panagos.

She was raised in a loving family alongside three sisters and extended family in her beautiful village in the mountains of central Greece. The onset of World War II and Greece’s subsequent Civil War devastated her village and changed the course of her life. As with many of her generation, she faced and overcame immense hardship.

As a young teen, Aliki was sent to live with family in Athens to learn a trade. There she trained for two years and became a professional seamstress. Gifted in her craft, Aliki returned to her village and worked tirelessly for many years to help support her family.

In 1959, she married Tommy Asime, a young man from her village. He also suffered tremendous loss in Greece and had immigrated to the United States several years prior. Aliki arrived in America later that year, unable to speak, read, or write a word of English. This was a very difficult time for her. She missed her beloved homeland and family terribly. However, she found support and love in the Greek Orthodox community of Newport News. It was there that she raised her two daughters, instilling in them strong values of faith, family, and education, pillars they still live by today.

She faithfully served her church all her active life. Aliki was a member of the Hellenic Womans Penelope Society, the Daughters of Penelope, and the Philoptochos Society. In addition, she worked hard alongside her husband in their successful restaurant business.

Aliki was a wonderful cook, a perfectionist about her home, and found great joy in gardening and flowers. Above all, she was a devoted mother and grandmother.

She was lovingly cared for by her two daughters, with whom she always had a close relationship. Her family is grateful to Megan and the memory care team at Mennowood for supporting her over the last year with grace and care. The family is also grateful to the loving friends who frequently visited her.

She is survived by her daughter, Maria Vidakis and husband Bobby, daughter Dina Headrick and husband Roger, granddaughter Kristina Headrick and husband Christos Paschos, grandson Manoli Vidakis, granddaughter Aliki Vidakis, and great-granddaughter Phoebe Maria Paschou Headrick.

In addition, she is survived by her sisters Maria Tsiotas and Panagiota Manetas of Athens, Greece, her sister-in-law Tessie Dakis, and many loving nieces and nephews, both in Greece and in America.

She was predeceased by her husband, Tommy Asime; her parents, Konstantine and Asimina Panagos; her sister, Cleo Tsachris; and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Papas.

Her memory will be eternal in our hearts.

Her spirit will live on in her legacy.

May her soul rest peacefully.

A viewing will be held at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 60 Traverse Rd, Newport News, on Tuesday, January 20 at 5 p.m., followed by a Trisagion Prayer service at 6 p.m. The funeral service will take place at the church on Wednesday, January 21, at 11:30 a.m., with a burial to follow at Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News. A reception (Makaria) will follow at Sacalis Hall.

Donations in her memory can be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Newport News, Virginia.