In loving memory of Julie Molfetas - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Julie Molfetas (née Paul) died on Friday, February 10th, 2023, at the age of 74. She survived two bouts of breast cancer, but not the third. She was surrounded by her youngest daughter and daughter-in-law: passing in the care of hospice in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Julie was born in Manhattan, New York on July 12, 1948; the first of two children for her parents, James Paul (Hatzipavlos) and Kay (née Papamichael), both of Mazotos, Cyprus. Julie survived the passing of both her parents and her husband of 52-years.

She was born after the end of WWII, in a city and country far removed from her parent’s origins. Her mother saw a female pianist perform at Carnegie Hall shortly after Julie was born and made a promise to have her baby girl learn the piano. By the time she was four, her family had relocated from Manhattan to Miami, to create a fine dining restaurant and banquet hall, called the Golden Fountain. At the age of nine, she started learning the piano; becoming a virtuoso at a young age. Throughout her early years, she would play the piano for events at her parents’ restaurant. She was active in the Greek Orthodox Youth Association of St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church in Miami for over a decade, even going with them to march in a parade in NYC and present Miss Greece with flowers. She spoke multiple languages, and had a deep love of the arts, literature, and music – a love she would give to all her children. Despite growing up in a multilingual household, she would go on to earn her Bachelor’s in English Education from the University of Miami in 1971.

She met the love of her life, George Molfetas in 1970 in Miami, Florida through family friends. Together they raised four children and would stand by each other through both of their cancers and illnesses, hardships and windfalls. Julie raised her children and taught high school English and the piano for many years. Julie and George worked together in many of their family businesses, from restaurants to apartments. She would return to her piano studies, doing a special master class with Dr. Joseph Tarpley at the University of Miami. The family would move to California and later back to Florida, where Julie earned her Real Estate License. She was consistently a top listing agent. They would eventually settle in New Smyrna Beach, Florida with her husband and two youngest children. Julie and George owned Restaurant Place and Smyrna Restaurant Equipment, before retiring.

Julie is survived by her four loving children and their spouses, Kay Kiria Betancourt (Peter), Sophia Molfetas, Antonios Molfetas (Victoria), and Martha Molfetas (Michelle Chasteen). She is also survived by her brother James Paul Jr., and over a dozen nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She will always be a beloved mother, sister, and aunt to her family, and a cherished friend and teacher to all who were lucky to have known her. May her memory be eternal.

A viewing will be held at Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home in New Smyrna Wednesday, February 22, 2023 from 9:00 until 11:00 am. Funeral services will be held at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Daytona the following day, Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 10:00 am, followed by burial at Edgewater-New Smyrna Cemetery and a fish dinner.

Donations can be made in Julie’s memory to Halifax Hospice, the service that provided her with care and comfort in her final days. For those wishing to contribute to funeral expenses, please contact Julie’s daughter-in-law, Michelle Chasteen at (407) 757-3780.