Supercentenarian Profile

Frances Katsis

Born:

1914-11-20

Karpenisi, Central Greece

Greece

Died:

2026-04-26

Charlotte, North Carolina

United States

Frances (Fotini) Katsis (née Paspalaris) was a Greek-born American supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Frances Katsis was born in the village of Dermati in Karpenisi, Central Greece, on 20 November 1914. She was born to Dimitrios Paspalaris and Konstantia Kardara Paspalari.

At the age of 8, she lost her father, who died from wounds suffered during World War I after returning home. Her mother passed away when she was 12 years old. While her older brother, George, worked in Thessaloniki, she cared for sheep and goats and worked the land to help the family survive. Friends, relatives, and neighbors offered support during those difficult years. Because she was responsible for tending animals and pastures from such a young age, she did not receive a formal education. Determined to learn, she taught herself to read and write, which later enabled her to correspond with friends and relatives.

In 1935, Frances married Kleomenis (“Clay”) Katsigiannis from a neighboring village in an arranged marriage. Together they had two children, Nikolaos and Eleftheria (“Elizabeth”). During the difficult years of the Communist uprising in Greece, the family fled to Athens in search of safety and survival.

In 1951, Clay was sponsored by an uncle to immigrate to the United States. On Valentine’s Day in 1955, Frances and her children entered the United States through Ellis Island. The family settled in Kinston, North Carolina, where they lived until 1966. During that time, Frances cooked, learned to bake traditional American pies, and served homemade meals at the Busy Bee Cafe. In 1966, the family moved to Burlington, North Carolina.

Frances Katsis passed away in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 26 April 2026, at the age of 111 years, 157 days.