After a long journey, Elenitsa "Nitsa" Ray has been laid to rest. She passed on January 27th in the company of her youngest child, Alex Ray, and his family.
Nitsa lived an extraordinary life. Nitsa was born in 1939 on the island of Samos, Greece, and her childhood was marked by hunger and poverty. She survived two wars - first World War II, which saw her home occupied by German soldiers, and again during the Greek Civil War, which left her with a bullet wound in her leg that she would one day show her grandchildren as a symbol of her resiliency.
Despite the hardships of her childhood, Nitsa emigrated to the United States in 1956, where she attended high school in California and learned to speak English. During her immigration interview, the judge asked Nitsa about her favorite American things. Her answer of "Elvis Presley and ice cream," proved how well she'd assimilated into modern American culture, and is what earned her citizenship.
Nitsa married John Ray, a local barber, in 1960, and together they opened the barber shop "It's Your Hair" on 25th Avenue, which eventually became "Nitsa's Barbering." They had three children: John (1961-2018), Anna Maria (1964-2015), and Alex (1966).
Nitsa was loved by her family, friends, and all who knew her. She gave generously - her love, time, and money- to anyone who needed it. A devoted follower of the Greek Orthodox religion, she exemplified kindness, readily sacrificing her own comfort and security to help others.
She is survived by her son, her seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
The ceremony to celebrate the life of Elenitsa Ray will be at the Church of the Holy Cross in Belmont on February 5th, at 11:00 a.m. Instead of flowers, Nitsa's family has requested that any donations be sent to Guide Dogs for the Blind or UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.