GUILDERLAND — Anita Goutos, of Guilderland and Lake George, helped with her husband’s dental practice and had unwavering love for her family, whom she always put first.
Her family wrote in a tribute that she “peacefully entered into eternal life” on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 90.

Born in her parents’ home in Schenectady on Dec. 16, 1932, Mrs. Goutos was the daughter of the late Harry and Jennie Arony. Her brother, Dr. Alexander Arony, and her sister, Amelia Lake, both died before her. 

Mrs. Goutos is survived by her beloved husband, Dr. Christopher G. Goutos. Together, they celebrated 68 years of marriage. Family and friends may recall the large gathering held to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary, at which time they renewed their wedding vows.

She graduated from the former Mont Pleasant High School, class of 1950, in Schenectady. She also was a graduate of Albany Business School. 

Mrs. Goutos worked as a secretary at General Electric in Schenectady for several years. Following that, she was the receptionist in her husband’s dental office in Guilderland. For nearly 30 years, they operated their practice from their office, which was attached to their home located on Carman Road.

“Anita and her husband, Chris, liked to travel,” her family wrote. “They went to Florida numerous times, as well as going on five cruises. In their retirement years, they took three cross-country road trips.

“Anita and her husband were active members of the Mont Pleasant High School Reunion Committee for many years. She was instrumental in the planning of many of the memorable reunions and get-togethers for her fellow classmates over the past 65 years. She was also a member of the Women’s Dental Auxiliary in Schenectady.

“Growing up, Anita was very athletic. In high school, she enjoyed playing many sports, including tennis and basketball. She was also on the cheerleading squad. In later years, she was part of a bowling league. She enjoyed watching basketball games, and for many years she and her husband had season tickets to see the Siena College home games.

“Anita was also interested in arts and crafts projects. She enjoyed doing paint-by-number pictures. She also liked to crochet scarves and blankets. Her house has many of the hand-painted objects she made in ceramics classes, and she was an active member of the Home Bureau in her Guilderland neighborhood.

“She served as a den mother when her sons were in Cub Scouts. Many memorable Scout meetings were held in their family’s home basement.

“Anita had an unwavering love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would always put the needs of her family before her own. She loved having her family around her, and enjoyed conversations and sharing memories with them. Anita cherished her friends with whom she loved catching up with whenever she could.

“Anita and her husband had many close friends that they knew from their childhood, and they enjoyed social gatherings with them on a regular basis. They would rotate houses for holding Saturday night card parties, and go to nightclubs to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. They would occasionally have weekend getaways with friends to go see shows and concerts in New York City.

“Anita loved the time spent with her family from the summers they spent in Bolton Landing, Lake George, where the family has had a camp for over 50 years. She loved reading books and magazines on the dock, as well as boating on the lake. She had many close friends and neighbors in the area that she adored. Her grandchildren have cherished memories of the time they spent with their grandmother at the lake.

“In 1989, Anita and her husband started to spend their winters in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. They had a condominium near the ocean for 28 years until they were in their mid-80s. There they made numerous new friends, whom they continued to keep in touch with.

“In their senior years, Anita and Chris loved watching whatever movie was being shown each evening on the Turner Classic Movies Channel. They always enjoyed going out to see movies in the theater, as well. In fact, as a young girl she spent every Saturday watching the movie reels being shown all day at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, as a way to occupy herself while her mother ran the family’s Greek and Italian Import store just a few doors down from the theater.

“Anita and her husband were long-time communicants first at St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Guilderland, and in later decades at Christ the King Church in Westmere, after moving to the Kennewyck development in Slingerlands. When in Bolton Landing, they would attend the Blessed Sacrament Church.”

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Anita Goutos was the devoted mother of Theodore Goutos and his wife, Mary, of Lake Luzerne; Gregory Goutos and his wife, Nellie, of Altamont; Christopher P. Goutos and his wife, Heather, of Guilderland; and Janet Lewis and her husband, James, of Malta.

She was the cherished grandmother of Kevin (Stephanie), Corrina, Timothy, Kathleen, Matthew, and Emily. She was the great-grandmother of Liam and Logan. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home at 5216 Western Turnpike in Guilderland.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., at Christ the King Church at 20 Sumter Ave. in Westmere. Burial will follow at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude place, Memphis, TN 38105.