Rebecca Makridis Georgakis was taught early in life by her parents, Chrysanthi and John, that her education was the single most important thing.
Despite being weakened by rounds of chemotherapy to treat a brain tumor diagnosed in February 2003, Makridis graduated cum laude in 2005 from NEIU with a bachelor’s in English and a minor in human resources, fulfilling her dream of obtaining her degree despite obstacles.
Rebecca died Tuesday, Oct. 31 after her cancer returned, leaving her family and others who admired her to reflect on the life of a determined young woman who touched the lives of everyone who knew her.
Her mother remembers a headstrong, talented young woman who did not back away from the challenges of her illness. “We were always pushing for education,” Mrs. Makridis said, and she noted with more than a little pride the fact that Rebecca earned her degree under some very trying circumstances. Mrs. Makridis also pointed out that Rebecca was one of the first in he family to earn a college degree.
Mrs. Makridis described just how badly Rebecca wanted to finish what she started at NEIU, as she and Rebecca’s then-fiancé Christos Georgakis drove Rebecca to school each day because she could not drive herself, helping Rebecca achieve her goal of earning a degree.
Despite the fact that her illness was taxing her physical strength, she persevered and continued to live her life, marrying Christos on Dec. 11, 2005 and taking a job at NEIU for a brief time. Rebecca described to others how Christos supported her through her illness, acting as her “chauffeur.” She told a friend that she was “forever grateful” for his support.
Peggy Shannon, Honors Program administrative aide, described Rebecca as having an “Enormous love and respect for her family and friends. She kept her illness private and strove for the normal everyday life that her peers were experiencing here at NEIU. She wanted to finish her degree, get married and a get a job. She did all that. I miss her.”
Mrs. Makridis said that Rebecca loved writing and wrote quite a bit of poetry. Rebecca wrote the following poem at age 15, long before the battle that would eventually take her life:
War Between Heart and Mind
Not war between right and wrongWar between right and rightWhile the mind seeks education, the heart seeks love
There are three things that the brain aswell as modern medicine Cannot cure or controlSpirits that dieA wounded soulAnd a broken heart
The only way to find truce between thebattle of the two rights, mind and heart, ispatience
The longer the heart waits, the morespirits will die and the longer soul woundswill take to heal
Rebecca Makridis Georgakis is survived by her mother Chrysanthi, father John, brother Alex and husband Christos.