Emily Karagianis Smading was the third and youngest child of Efthimios and Pagony Karagianis. She was born in Aberdeen, Washington and spent her childhood in both Aberdeen and Hoquiam, attending public schools in both places and Grays Harbor College.
When she and Robert married in 1951, they bought a house on K Street in Hoquiam where they lived until 1960 when the young family moved into their newly built dream house on Lawrence Drive in Hoquiam. In 1972, she and her family left Hoquiam for Eugene, Oregon and then in 1974 moved again to Bellevue, Washington. She resided in Bellevue near her brother George and his family until 2018 when she transitioned to assisted living. She spent her final years at Sunrise of Mercer Island and quietly passed away in her sleep on the morning of Feb. 15, 2023.
There is no doubt that Emily’s favorite place in the world was the family cabin on Hood Canal where she spent every summer enjoying the sun, the water and the beach. She loved to dig clams and make clam chowder. Her favorite activities were shopping, especially at Bellevue Square, spending time with family, especially at Hood Canal, driving her 1957 Triumph TR3 sportscar (which survives her) and eating. She loved food of all kinds and lots of it! She was the envy of her friends because she could eat all she wanted without gaining weight. So, we all knew the end must be near when she lost interest in eating.
Her parents and two older brothers, William Michael Kargianis and George Byron Kargianis preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Robert Elman Smading, her three children, Stephen Smading (Flora), Susan Wagner (Robert) and Sally Zapata, her six grandchildren: Stephanie Verkamp (Eric), Elena Wagner (Andrew Withnell), Michael Smading (Sylvia), Alexandra Benavente (Alan), Samuel Wagner and Mitchell Smading; and her five great-grandchildren: Theodore Verkamp, Theia Smading, Olivia Smading, Abigail Verkamp and Stella Withnell.
Emily requested there be no formal services. Her preference in lieu of flowers is to instead give something to the charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at a time and place to be determined.
