CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 45 Manuel first learned to bake as a girl growing up in the Peloponnese region of Greece. When she married in 1961, her new groom presented her with a copy of a traditional cookbook entitled "Greek Cookery" written by Nikolaos Tselementes, the male Greek counterpart of Betty Crocker. Over the years, Manuel became a mainstay not just in her own kitchen, but also in the church's kitchen off Oakridge Avenue. She was an integral part of the bake sales that accompanied the church's popular fundraisers, such as the World's Largest Spaghetti Dinner, the annual Greek Festival and Athenian Night. "Everything that comes out of her kitchen is amazing," said Dena Goodson, another longtime church member. "What comes to mind most, though, is the joy she takes in baking. She loves it. She is as passionate with her kitchen creations as she is about life in general. She is just a remarkable woman. "I laugh remembering our last church pastry sale," Goodson said. "We ask the ladies to bring in a cake or a batch of cookies to supplement the traditional Greek pastries that we bake as a group. I struggle to get one cake to the sale as she walks in carrying a large box with 40 loaves of pear breads using the pears she handpicked off her trees. As she leaves, she says, 'Let me know if you need any more!' " One of Presbytera Manuel's specialties is a traditional Greek pastry called diples, a word that has Greek origins similar to the word diploma. Its flaky, syrup-dipped folds are reminiscent of the way a diploma is rolled. ey also bring to mind the wings of angels. She said she makes them at New Year's out of love for all those children and grandchildren who grow up so quickly. "I'm making them so time can fold their wings and not go fast," she said. She said she loves French poet Alphonse de Lamartine's most famous work, "Le Lac," which tells of wistful love and wishing time would stand still. "Time! Cease your flight, and halcyon hours suspend your flow! Allow us to savor the fleeting delights of these most beautiful days of our lives!" Alas, social distancing kept the church from hosting its regular edition of Athenian SULLIVAN'S Highland Funeral Service & Crematory Family Owned and Operated Personalized Funeral and Cremation Services Cremations Performed On-site Pre-planning of Funeral Options 910.484.8108 • 610 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC www.sullivanshighland.com Karen Sullivan Mercer and Edward Mercer, Owners W H AT ' S YO U R F LO O R S T Y L E? A Shaw Flooring Gallery 910.485.5865 | 2825 RAEFORD ROAD | WWW.WEBBCARPET.NET CA R PE T | CE R A MI C | H A R D WO O D | L A MI N ATE Since 1965 Webb Carpet Company Celebrating 55 Years Celebrating 55 Years

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