Elia Nicolaides, 82, of Palm Beach, Florida passed away July 3 at Del Ray Medical Center, Del Ray Beach, Florida, from complications from COVID-19.

She was born Jan. 8, 1938 in Famagusta, Cyprus, a small town on the Mediterranean Sea. The island nation was a British Crown colony at that time. Her mother, Maria Christodoulou, was born at Lefkara and her father, Abraham “Avram” Myrmidonis, was born at Kato Varosi. They grew up happily in modest surroundings.

One of eight children, Elia graduated from the Lyceum School in Famagusta. She excelled at sports in her youth while growing up with six brothers and a sister. Upon graduating from high school, she secured a position at Fragkoudi & Stephanou, an international shipping agency.

Her niece in Cyprus, Maro Psilla Georgallidou said: “She was one of the prettiest girls in Famagusta. She was always dressed beautifully and was quite chic!” Her niece also stated: “I grew up with her, she was like a mother to me and I can’t stand that she was taken from us so quickly. I will love her forever.”

In 1959, she met the love of her life, Mark Nicolaides, an American lawyer 10 years her senior. Mark was in Cyprus visiting family when they encountered each other at a cousin’s party. It was love at first sight, and Mark asked her to come back to America and be his wife. Elia replied: “I have to go home and ask my mother.” She hopped on her bicycle to head home to talk with mother while Mark hailed a taxi and followed her to await an answer. Twenty-eight days later they married and honeymooned in Paris before returning to Astoria, Queens, New York to establish their home.

Mrs. Nicolaides became employed by the Atlantic Bank in Manhattan where she worked until starting her family in 1964. She and her husband have two sons, John Paul and Christopher.

In 1966 Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaides moved to Plainfield and in 1968 purchased a home in Warren Township where they raised their family. She was an active member in the Deerwood and Warrenville Swim Clubs. She was a member of the Strike and Spare bowling league and enjoyed yoga. Elia was an accomplished host, she loved to entertain and her home was open and welcoming to many friends and family members over the years.

During the 1970s war broke out in her homeland when Turkey invaded Cyprus. She and her husband spent a great deal of their time working to bring her family members to the United States as refugees. Many of them were welcomed into her home until they could establish themselves as naturalized American citizens. She is credited by many of her nieces as having saved their families from the tragedies of war.

In 1982, after her children were grown, Elia returned to the workforce. She worked in the mortgage division of First Atlantic Bank in South Plainfield as the closing supervisor and remained with the bank until she retired in 1996.

She and her husband purchased a condominium in Palm Beach, Florida in 1997 and relocated there permanently in 1998. Her graciousness was extended to her many friends and neighbors as she continued to entertain and prepare home cooked meals and demonstrate her culinary expertise. Her baklava and spanakopita were legendary and proved her baking prowess. Several of her brothers had also retired to Florida with their families so she was able to continue to nurture her extended family. She delighted in visits from her sons, granddaughters, nieces and nephews and their families as well.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Antonis of Lake Worth, Florida; Christos of Hollywood, Florida; Costantinos of London, United Kingdom; and Andreas, Charalambos, Panayiotis and a sister Adoulla Psilla of Cyprus.

Mrs. Nicolaides is survived by her husband of 60 years, Mark Nicolaides, Esq. of Palm Beach; her sons John Paul Nicolaides and his spouse Councilman Edward J. Zipprich of Red Bank and Christopher Nicolaides of Somerville; three granddaughters, Mary Cate Zipprich of Somerville, Massachusetts, Willow Nicolaides of Olympia, Washington and Nikita Nicolaides of Vero Beach, Florida; her beloved sister-in-law Androulla Vrahimis of Lake Worth, Florida; many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews. Family was everything to Elia and she was loved and is greatly missed by all.

A celebration of life will take place after the COVID -19 pandemic allows for safe gathering.

Cremation services were provided by Neptune Society, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.