Bertha August

A Memorial Tribute to

Bertha Prevas August

1925 - 2023

Panayiota (Bertha) Prevas was born on July 10, 1925, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the eldest of three children born to Themistocles and Mary Prevas. Along with her parents, she grew up with her siblings Peter Prevas and Gloria (Frank) Zarkos, all who preceded her in death. 

In 1946, at the age of 21, Bertha met Christopher (Chris) August. The two quickly fell in love and were married the following year on October 26, 1947, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Baltimore. Over the next sixty years, the two would build a beautiful life together that spanned the east and west coasts – starting in Baltimore and eventually settling in Cypress, California. 

Bertha and Chris were devout members of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church and spent many years volunteering their time while also instilling Greek culture and values into their three loving children, Margo, Anita, and Thames. 

Bertha always found great passion in helping others to look and feel their very best. While she could often be found sporting a signature scarf with a glamorous hairstyle and makeup, she most enjoyed extending her artistic talents to the general community through her career as a beautician working at The Druggist and later at The Boston Store.

She was a proud and supportive grandmother and, in later years, her great-grandchildren became the light of her life. She cherished every family gathering and relished any opportunity that she could see her family all together. 

A part of Bertha’s vibrant personality and light was extinguished when her beloved Chris passed away in 2008, followed a few years later by the sudden death of her daughter Anita in 2014. She missed them both dearly and was overcome with deep sorrow that took a toll on her. With faith and courage, she gathered her inner strength and continued her life with dignity and grace. In her final years, she would often share with others her desire for the Lord to call her home.

On Monday, June 26, 2023, just two weeks shy of her 98th birthday, Bertha August fell asleep in the Lord and was reunited with her loving husband Chris and beloved daughter Anita. She will be dearly missed by her surviving family: her daughter Margo (Andrew) Chapralis and son Thames (Natalie) August;grandchildren Deidra (John) Cooper, George Chapralis, Kristi (Derek) Welsbie, and Hailey August; and great-grandchildren Aedan Cooper, Ariana Welsbie, Analiesa Cooper, Andrew Welsbie and Asher Welsbie. 

A viewing for Bertha August will be held on Friday, July 21 from 12:00pm-4:00pm at Forest Lawn in Cypress, California. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 10:00am at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 405 North Dale Ave., Anaheim CA 92801. Following the service, the interment will be at Forest Lawn, Cypress, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in memory of Bertha August.  

May her memory be eternal!