Chrystalla Petropoulou, who became nun at 92, dies

Chrystalla Petropoulou, who at the age of 92 realized a lifelong dream of becoming a nun, has died - six months after taking her vows at a new Greek Orthodox monastery she helped build in bucolic Calverton.

Petropoulou, a longtime Mattituck resident who used a wheelchair and needed dialysis three times a week, died Tuesday, according to relatives. A Divine Liturgy and funeral service was celebrated Thursday at the All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery in Calverton where she had been living. She was buried in Northport Rural Cemetery.

One of her brothers-in-law, Pete Demetriou, said he burst into tears when he heard Petropoulou had died. "She was very religious," he said. "She was like my sister."

Petropoulou wasn't able to become a nun earlier in life for a variety of reasons, including a lack of monasteries in her native Greece, and her family's moves, first to England and then the United States. She moved into the monastery a year ago and finally donned her black religious dress at a ceremony that formally made her a nun there in April.

Four young women who were also becoming nuns at the monastery agreed to take her in and care for her.

"Her wish was to become a nun, and also to die there. She got her wish," said the Rev. Constantine Makrinos, pastor of the Church of Transfiguration of Christ in Mattituck, one of seven priests who officiated at her funeral.

Intent on becoming a nun - but with no nearby monastery - Petropoulou drove a community effort to construct the Calverton complex. She began fundraising in 1997, depositing $13 in a special bank account, according to the Rev. Vasilios Govits, former pastor of Transfiguration of Christ Church, who also presided at the funeral. Later, she donated thousands of dollars, as did some of her relatives, and an anonymous donor gave $125,000.

The monastery was finished in late 2005.

The women who moved in last year lived a monastic life, praying every three hours around the clock. Petropoulou was not required to attend the late-night sessions because of her age, the other sisters said, but at times was up praying anyway.

Petropoulou is survived by her sister, Anna Orros of Mattituck, and five nieces and nephews.