Zissis Christos Kitras, age 79, returned home to his Father in Heaven early Friday morning on March 16, 2018 after a brief battle with cancer. Born in Athens, Greece to Christos Constantinos and Maria Kitras née Drakos on June 30, 1938. He was the third of four sons. He graduated from B! High School in Athens in 1956. In 1956, Zissis began his studies in Languages at Brigham Young University where he majored in French and minored in German, however he also became fluent in Spanish, English and Russian. He taught Greek at BYU (1958-59). During that time he reviewed and gave input to the translation of the Book of Mormon into Greek. He graduated from BYU in 1962. He worked as a personal assistant to Nadine Henley at the Hughes Corporation from 1962-1975. He later went on to attend the University of Panama (1976-1983), graduating with a degree in Medicine. Upon his return from Panama, he met his sweetheart Dorene Western. They were sealed in the Provo LDS Temple on December 16, 1985. They are the parents of seven children. He worked as an attendant at the Utah State Mental Institution for 1983-1986. He worked in a Family Practice Residency in Minneapolis, MN and also as a Physician’s Assistant for the Bureau of Prisons in Rochester, MN.
Family was always important to Zissis and he made sure that our home was always filled with love, music and laughter. He was a self taught musician who enjoyed accompanying the family sing-a-longs with his baritone ukulele and exposing us to the great classics of opera and classical music. But above all, he had a strong and abiding testimony of and love for the Lord Jesus Christ and shared it often with his family. His entire life centered around the teachings found in the Book of Mormon especially 2 Nephi 25:26
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”
He is preceded in death by his mother, father and older brothers: Constantinos and Panagiotis Kitras. He is survived by his sweetheart of 32 years: Dorene; eight children: Tina Kitras-Seeman (Larry), Vanalorin Stephens (David), Kiersten Bezzant (Ryan), Joshua Kitras, Cameron Kitras (Maddelin), Maria-Elise Smith (Dane), Christopher Kitras, Robert Kitras; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; his brother: John Kitras.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 24 at 11:00 am at the Delta 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, 197 S 300 W, Delta, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10-10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Deseret Cemetery in Deseret, Utah.
A special thanks to the Sun Tree Hospice for all their support, care and assistance.