Stephen Gidus fell asleep in the Lord, peacefully Monday morning. He won his fight to eternal life with the Lord after battling cancer. He was circled in love at the time of his passing with his loving family and close friends.  Stephen will have a traditional Christian Orthodox funeral and burial.

The Funeral Vigil for Stephen will be held Thursday October 11 at 6 PM. The viewing and the reading of the Psalter follow. The Church will be open through the night for the reading of the Psalter. Everyone is welcome to help with the reading. The Funeral Liturgy and burial beginning at 9:30 AM on Friday, October 12. There will be a Lenten meal at the church following the burial.

 A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 12 at 6:00 PM in the Lee Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church at 106 East Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801.

Stephen was well known in the community for his strong faith and family values along with exemplary work ethic. Stephen was a devoted husband to wife, Tara, and father to two young boys, Basil, 5, and Levi, 3. Stephen was a custom home builder. He was in business with his brother, Paul, and owned PSG Construction in Orlando. More recently, he started a consulting business called REMODology and wrote five books for the remodeling construction industry.

Stephen had a passion for running and finished 17 marathons, including the Boston Marathon twice. He and his wife, Tara, ran two marathons on their honeymoon in Paris and London. Stephen had a passion for helping the homeless. He organized a clothing drive for the Coalition of the Homeless in downtown Orlando for twenty years.

The foundation of Stephen’s life was his strong faith. He attended the Orthodox Church of St. Stephen in Longwood, where he was a reader and active on the building committee and parish council. He went on several mission trips to Guatemala, Africa, and Mexico to spread his strong Christian faith. Next to his faith, his family was the most important thing to him. Along with his wife and sons, he is survived by his father and mother, Tim and Marie Gidus, and his siblings Ann Marie Mecera, Paul Gidus, and James Gidus along with their spouses and seven nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following: Orthodox Church of St. Stephen (address above), the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, 639 West Central Blvd. Orlando, FL 32801, or to First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (address above). The money donated to First Presbyterian will be allocated to the daycare and preschool that Stephen’s sons attend. In all donations please note: In Memory of Stephen Gidus. Dobbs Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please keep the Gidus family in your prayers! May God grant the Servant of God, Stephen, Memory Eternal!