Pandora Cavanaugh
1927-2022
Pandora Cavanaugh, age 94, passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022 at her home in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., in the care of her loving son and daughter-in-law Robert and Mavin Cavanaugh.
Pandora was born June 6, 1927 in Washington, D.C., one of nine children (all deceased), first generation Americans, and daughter of Greek immigrants Gus and Evaggelia Kafinakou Vakas.
Graduating from Eastern High School in Washington, D.C., she worked at the Library of Congress.
Growing up in Washington, D.C., within a block of the Smithsonian Institution, Pandora was saturated with art and history.
She took up oil painting and, between raising six children, she found time to study at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, D.C.
Her children grew and started a business, Natures Waye Woodworking in Rockville, Md., where she joined in to help them as office manager.
Pandora was the beloved matriarch of her family, and she loved walking on the beach, dancing the jitterbug, playing canasta and going to dinner and movies with her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by five of her six children: Steve George Kaldes of Berkeley Springs, W.Va.; Paula George Diatsintos of Frederick, Md.; Denise Kaldes of Jerome, Ariz.; Joanne Cavanaugh Simpson of Towson Md.; and Robert Patrick Cavanaugh of Berkeley Springs. In addition, she is survived by seven grandchildren: James McPherson, Cassandra Diatsintos, Christos Diatsintos, Peter Kaldes, Taylor Kaldes, Chloe Simpson and Colt Simpson, one step grandchild, Heather Price, as well as four great-grandchildren: Angelina Kaldes, George Owen McPherson, James Colin McPherson, and William Paxton McPherson.
She is preceded in death by her first husband George Paul Kaldes, and second husband John Patrick Cavanaugh; as well as her son, John George Kaldes and grandson Nicolas George Kaldes.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union St., Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. FACE MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED. Interment will be scheduled at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
