Meropi Soulges Courogen

May 11, 1940 – March 18, 2024

Meropi Soulges Courogen was born in the village of Kalloni on the island of Lesvos, Greece on May 11,1940. Her family moved to Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania in 1945, adopting a new country while holding onto their roots and language. It is in Pennsylvania that she met her husband-to-be, William (Bill), married, and started a family. After living in numerous places on the East Coast, and called by the beauty of Oregon, they moved to Portland in 1973.

It is fitting that Meropi was born so close to Mother’s Day – caring for her family and others was her life’s calling. She had a special place in her heart for people at the ends of life’s spectrum, the very young and the elderly. Many were recipients of her gifts, pastries, meatballs, icons that she wrote, and words of comfort. She frequently brought the family together to celebrate birthdays, name days, holidays, and personal achievements. She spent the last several years devoting herself to the care of Bill, who shared life with her for close to 62 years.

While Meropi made her home in the United States, she maintained her parents’ home in Greece and generously shared it with her family. She made frequent trips back to Kalloni, both alone and with various configurations of husband, children, and their friends; a family wedding in 2007 brought many to the island. Meropi also spent time alone in Greece, most often traveling to Thessaloniki to start the season of Lent at a monastery there. It is no surprise that she was called home to God on the first day of Greek Orthodox Lent. Her faith was a central part of her life and her source of strength.

Meropi is survived by her husband, her children Maria (David Fenbert), Deanna, Peter (Claudette Courogen), and Gregory (Marshalee Courogen), and her treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren (Kaylee, Alyssa, Sophia, Olivia, Juliana, Fiona, Cameron, Esme, Lexi and Tyson). At rowdy family gatherings, she would frequently turn to Bill and say to him “Look at what we made.”

Meropi was a cherished member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR and more recently, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Beaverton, OR. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to St. John’s to support the construction of the new church, something she was sorry she would not live to see.

Funeral services will take place at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Beaverton, OR at 11am on Saturday, March 23rd. Meropi will repose at her beloved St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery in Goldendale, WA. May her memory be eternal.