Claudine Pantelias

Claudine Gasnier Pantelias, 76, was born and raised near Orleans, France. As an adult, she became an airline stewardess for Air France during that time, she lived in Comoros, then Madagascar, both off the coast of Africa. In the early 1970’s, she and her children immigrated to the United States to the Biloxi, Mississippi area where she became a home interior decorator and women’s amateur golfer with the PGA tour. For many years, she maintained dual citizenship to both the United States and France. In the 1980’s she moved to Rocky Face, Georgia to focus on raising her family. Claudine moved to Chattanooga in the early 1990’s and started an haute couture fashion boutique (Claudine’s Boutique) which she operated for 15 years. She worked for the Chattanooga Airport Authority and Enterprise Rental Cars until 2007. Claudine was deeply involved in the Chattanooga Social French Club, and was president of this club for the past ten years. She was an avid golfer and a member of Black Creek Golf Club. She was also a member of the Chattanooga Diva Ladies Club. Claudine was a fashion icon and a social butterfly. She loved all kinds of music and was an accomplished dancer (she recently danced backward on the Gatlinburg skybridge) and was the belle of the ball. She lit up a room when she entered and was the life of the party. She was an accomplished cook, especially classic French cuisine. Claudine had a global footprint. She had no fear—from her overnight exodus from Madagascar due to a revolution to her battle with breast cancer to the fulfillment of a bucket list item (in her 60’s) of parachuting from a plane. Claudine was known best as a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and partner. She loved her family above all else; she single-handedly pulled her son and daughter from the wreckage to safety in Comoros, Africa. She was one of the most honest, generous and kind women to have graced our lives. Claudine was preceded in death by her parents, Andre and Odette Gasnier, brothers, Michel Gasnier and Serge Gasnier, first husband and father of her children, Peter Pantelias. Claudine is survived by her partner, Robert Beaver, Son, John Thomas (Cathy) of Powder Springs GA; grandson, James (Jordyn), great-grand Daughter, Edlyn Rose Pantelias, great-grandson, Axis James Pantelias, Great-grandson, Kylo John Pantelias of Hiram GA; granddaughter, Claudine Stafford (Chris) of Auburn GA; grandson, Johnny Pantelias, great-grandson, John Alexander Pantelias of Marietta GA; daughter, Deborah Wilson (Robert), grandson, Christopher Wilson, granddaughter, and Allie Wilson of Dallas, GA; brother, Philippe Gasnier (Josette) of Beavoir-Sur-Mer’Pays De La Loire, France; niece, Frederique Gasnier of Orleans France; sister, Muguette Victorine Fernande from Orleans, France; niece, Martine Pichard (Christian), grandnephew, Ronan Pichard of Loury, France; Chantal and Gerard Rouet of Orleans, France; niece, Nathalie Kanya of Orleans, France, and sister, Sonia Menage (Christian) from Orleans, France. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to American Cancer Society. As an animal lover (especially cats), memorials to Naughty Cat Café (naughtycatcafe.com, “support the cats”) are also appreciated. A Celebration of Life Ceremony in Claudine’s honor will be held Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 6-10PM at Granfalloon on East Main Street. Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415 www.lanefh.com 423-877-3524.