Constance Diana Aridas

October 21, 1956 - July 31, 2018

Constance Diana Aridas, 61, of Asheville, NC passed away on July 31 after a valiant battle with leukemia (ALL). She was born in Elizabeth, NJ, to Efstratios J. and Crystal Stamos Aridas. Connie grew up in Ocean Township, NJ. During that time she played on her high school field hockey and track teams. She also enjoyed playing acoustic guitar with her friends. She was active in the Girl Scouts USA, achieving the rank of First Class Scout. In addition, she was a teaching assistant in the Sunday School of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Asbury Park. Connie earned a BA degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She began her professional career at the Wrangler company, in Greensboro, NC. She married Michael Mayhew and relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she was an advertising director for Arthur Rutenberg Homes. (She and Michael later divorced.) Upon her return to the Asheville area, she worked for many years at The Alpha Group as a creative director and art director. Connie ventured out on her own and founded Connie Aridas Creative, specializing in advertising and design of campaigns that included print, websites, television commercials, and logo design. She was a member of the American Advertising Federation of Asheville and over the years received numerous honors and Addy Awards marking the excellence of her work. Some of her designs may be found on the signage around Asheville today. Connie has been described as a beautiful soul. Always gracious and kind, she was someone who saw the good in all things. While she never liked being the middle child, that position served her well in business and in life, where she was adept at finding a middle ground to be fair to everyone. Her daughter was the highlight of her life, filling her heart with pride when she said “when you snuggle me mom, it makes the rainbow happen.” Connie has been a long-time communicant of Grace Church, Mills River, NC. She is survived by her daughter Zoe Elizaveta and their dog Piper, sister Pauline (NJ and Asheville), brother James and Alison Terrett Aridas, and their children Jimmy, Kevin (all of Brielle, NJ), and Megan (Coconut Grove, FL), many aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Stamos and Aridas sides of the family. In addition she leaves behind an extended family of many loving friends. Family and friends may pay their respects at the Bongarzone Funeral Home, 2400 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07712 on Sunday from 3 to 7pm. Funeral Services will be at the St. George Church, Ocean, NJ 07712 on Monday August 6 at 11:30am, followed by interment at the St. George Cemetery in Neptune, NJ. A memorial service is being planned for later in August, to be held at Grace Church in Mills River, NC. Special thanks to the nurses and medical staff in ICU at Mission Health for their care and attention. Should you wish to make a charitable contribution in her name, Connie always supported the local food bank of Asheville and the good works of the church. May her memory be eternal.