BROOKS, Bessie, age 90, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Dayton. Our mom, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2025. I haven’t entirely processed this, as she was the most stable part of our lives. She was born in Nashua, New Hampshire. When she was a toddler, they moved back to Greece. They ended up being stuck there for the duration of the war. She lost her father, and I’m told 28 other family members during the war. My Yiayia (grandmother) came back to the states a widow with 4 children. That’s really where her story begins, she didn't dwell on it. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Business Administration. She ran the family business at a time when women weren’t allowed to have credit cards. She was a great mom, not only to her kids but to all our friends growing up.

Mom found it impossible to cook for a few people. She always made enough for a small army. As teenagers, we would go out and raise hell. Late that night, we would always be back at my house. All I would have say is Bess made pastitsio, minestra, or whatever it was. She didn't mind. It was her way of knowing we were safe. She used to make chili for Sunday football at our family bar. She started using ground turkey instead of beef. She didn’t tell anyone except me. She was worried about everyone’s cholesterol levels. That was Mom. She had a big heart.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James; parents, Demetrios & Ourania Gardikis; brother, John Gardikes; and sister, Katherine Richards.  Bessie is survived by her daughter & son-in-law, Annie Brooks & Wayne Rotterman; sons & daughter-in-law, Art & Amy Brooks, Bill Brooks; brother, Arthur Gardikes; grandchildren, Kristen Finnegan (Kyle Dicke), Jimmy Brooks, Zach (Halee Roberts), Zoe (Laika McDermitt) & Niko Brooks; great-granddaughter, September James; and many other relatives & friends.

Funeral service 11:00 AM Friday, April 11, 2025 at Woodland Mausoleum, 118 Woodland Avenue with Father Anthony Cook and Father Demetrios Gardikes officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10:30 AM until service time at the Mausoleum.  There will be a celebration of life following the service at 1:00 PM at Villas at the Point II Clubhouse, 170 Abbey Drive, Springboro, OH 45066.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at bcrf.org.  Funeral arrangements entrusted to Marker & Heller Funeral Home.