Jeanie Mourikas

Jeanie (Tait) Mourikas, 90, passed away on October 25, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was the loving wife of the late Charles Mourikas. She was born in PA and spent most of her adult life in Danvers. She graduated from Juniata College in 1954 with a BA in English and received her master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1959. Jeanie taught high school English in New Jersey and New York. Later, she worked at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem and volunteered at the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers. Jeanie was the daughter of the late Adam and Janet Tait. She married Charles Mourikas of Ipswich, a fellow English teacher. She is survived by her daughters, Marianne Mourikas of Beverly and Karen Mourikas and her husband Robert Smazenka, grandsons Adam and Matthew Smazenka of Long Beach, CA, her sister-in-law Virginia Tait and her nieces and nephews, Beth, Sarah, Dave, and Doug. She was predeceased by her brother Adam Tait. Jeanie provided a loving home to the cats she adopted. She was an avid reader and loved to travel. Music was a big joy for her. She played the piano, was in a handbell choir, and loved singing along to her Scottish records. In her later years, as a resident of Seasons of Danvers, she took up painting. Jeanie is fondly remembered by both residents and staff for her infectious smile and her love of dancing and patriotic music. A celebration of Jeanie’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Jeanie to The Friends of the Library at The Peabody Institute Library in Danvers, 15 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA, 01923/ www.danverslibrary.org/friends-of-the-library or The Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave, Salem, MA, 01970/ www.northeastanimalshelter.org. Online condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com