Jenny Kanellopoulos passed away on November 18, 2025, at the age of 71. She was surrounded by her family who will continue to honor her legacy.
She was born in the Bronx, New York in 1954, married Ilias Kanellopoulos in 1976 and had 2 children. Ilias and Jenny had an amazing and loving bond. Ilias was the extrovert who entertained Jenny. She often said, “Ilias made me laugh so much. When I was thinking about his jokes and stories, I was laughing by myself.”
She was active in the Daughters of Penelope at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Yonkers, New York. Later, Jenny and her family moved to Florida and became active members of St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she was a member of Philoptochos and the Daughters of Penelope. She sewed dance group costumes for the girls and their friends in the dance group when it was formed.
Jenny worked at Phillip Benjamin Tower in St. Petersburg for over 15 years and helped the residents with their needs. Many residents came to visit her often, shared stories with her and she became a big part of their days. She coordinated trips to St. Stefanos for the festival each year, and every year they looked forward to attending with her.
Jenny loved fiercely and gave to many quietly. Being moral and giving is what she was known for. She never said no to anyone, almost to a fault, and went out of her way to help everyone she could.
Jenny is survived by her daughters Stavroula (Yiorgos) and Sophia, granddaughter Vasiliki with whom she had a special bond, her mother Helen, stepfather Nicholaos, and siblings Kathy, Penny, Voula, Haris and their families.
Services will be held at St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church, 3600 76th Street N, St Petersburg on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The viewing will be at 10:00am followed by the funeral at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, 1750 Curlew Rd, Palm Harbor.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Jenny to St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church or to AHEPA.
St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church
St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church
Curlew Hills Memory Gardens
Haris Harokopos
November 19, 2025, 1:33 pm
Deepest condolences during this difficult time. Jenny’s gentle spirit and kind heart touched so many lives, and she will be dearly missed.
John P Arambages
November 19, 2025, 2:45 pm
Strength ,perseverance , resilience, strong moral character , solid , thrifty and not wasteful , one would on the outside stereotype Mrs Kanellopoulos as this larger than life ,or in her world taller than life Stoic ,who was set in her ways . These innate qualities did not define her because as the layers got pulled away and those that were able to melt them where had witnessed in front of them a woman This woman that had executed countless random traits of kindness , there in front of us stood a remarkable woman . A woman that through those formentioned qualities gave all her being , her spirituality . all her love unconditionally to her husband Elias , to her daughters Sophia and Stephanie that also stand up as righteous and God fearing women in society today before us . to George her ever loving son in law . Never keeping score , always executing good works , and yet in her humility always preferred anonymity over an endless cheering fan club . Was Mrs Kanellopoulos rich ? Oh ever so , Her priceless moments of unspeakable joys that came when she held her 1 st granddaughter in her loving arms . When she looked back on her life with Elias as his casket was lowered into his resting place. As she huddled around with her daughters and tears of laughter came from how she was about to share her discipline tactics with Kounello . She made the impossible possible in a quiet way and for this I pointed out her real treasures was she rich ? If anyone deserves to get through the eye of the needle it will be Mrs . Kanellopoulos
Dorothea Harokopos
November 19, 2025, 4:53 pm
Jenny had a heart of gold. Her warm spirit towards others always made you feel welcome. I’ll always remember her for the kindness and love she showed to me and to my parents.
She truly carried the light of God within her every day. She was a wonderful sister in law. May her memory be eternal. -Dorothea
Voula
November 19, 2025, 5:04 pm
Jenny was a loving and gentle spirit with a tender heart. She was a great big sister and would always have candy in her purse for my brother and me, knowing we would rummage through her purse until we found it. She was taken too soon but the comfort for us is that she is no longer suffering and is now at peace.