Euphemia “Effie” Demopoulos Bradley, 77, of Lake Quivira, KS, passed away peacefully at home on February 1, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Effie was born on November 19, 1947, in Spartanburg, SC, the eldest daughter of the late Walter Demopoulos and Johanna Marika Kaplanidis Demopoulos. She graduated from Spartanburg High School and went on to receive a BA degree in Psychology from Converse College and a master’s degree in Special Education from Georgia State University. While living in Atlanta, GA and working in the field of mental health, Effie met and married her beloved husband, James Bradley. They welcomed their first daughter, Katherine, in Atlanta and then moved to Overland Park, KS. In Kansas, their second daughter, Joanna, was born, and their family was complete.

Following the deaths of her parents, Effie’s teenage sister, Elizabeth, who was born with severe Down Syndrome, came to live with Effie and her family in 1981. For the next four decades, Effie lovingly cared for her sister and created an amazing life for her. With Effie’s support, Elizabeth moved briefly to a group home, then to her own apartment, and eventually to her own house with her best friend and 30-year roommate, Brandy. Effie created a community for her sister with a meaningful job, social activities, close friends and an active spiritual life. She worked tirelessly to make Elizabeth’s life as full and purposeful as possible, always striving to ensure her sister lived up to her potential.

Effie’s advocacy for her sister had ripple effects across her local special needs community. As she observed policies or support systems that did not meet the needs of the developmentally disabled, she advocated for change by writing letters to policymakers, raising funds for local organizations and eventually starting her own case management company to serve clients with severe disabilities. Her passion and advocacy extended to other areas of her community as well such as lobbying for school redistricting to better align with student population growth. She was known for her courage to say what needed to be said and as a fearless voice for others in need.

While caring for her sister and supporting her husband’s demanding career in critical care medicine, Effie dedicated her life to raising her daughters, creating a loving and beautiful home and giving back to her community. She was deeply committed to her husband and children, supporting them in every possible way. As their children grew older, James and Effie continued to build rich memories together, going on multiple international trips and visiting their daughters and their families in Richmond, VA. Effie approached everything she did with a passion for excellence. She was a master gardener, a gourmet cook, an art lover and a talented amateur landscape and interior designer. Effie also was a beloved friend to many, known for her great sense of humor and gift for storytelling.

Effie instilled in her family a love for the Orthodox faith, which has been a constant in their lives. As a member of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church for over 40 years, she faithfully attended services and devoted countless hours to various committees and projects, most notably bringing her keen eye for design to the church’s beautiful architecture and iconography.

Effie is survived by her husband of 48 years, James Keith Bradley; her daughters, Katherine Marika Bradley (Neil Boege) and Joanna Caroline Papalios (Elias), both of Richmond, Virginia; her grandchildren, Isla and Eloise Boege and George and Zoey Papalios; her siblings Angela Demopoulos Mack (Bernard), Elizabeth Diane Demopoulos and Dimitri Christopher Demopoulos, and many nieces and nephews and their families. Effie is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Photine Electra Demopoulos Yorsz.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 6 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm with a memorial service at 6:30 pm at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Overland Park, KS. Funeral services will be Friday, February 7 at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church followed by burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, KS. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Building Fund, 11901 Pflumm Road, Overland Park, KS, 66213 or at http://www.holy-trinity-church.org/