John Benelas, 74, longtime Haverhill resident, passed away on Sunday evening, March 16, 2025, at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill.

John was born in Pentalofos, Greece, to loving parents Andrew and Efthemia (Papaefthemiou) Benelas. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 18, along with his mother and siblings. John owned and operated Captain Jason's Restaurant in Lowell for over 30 years.

He was a very spiritual, humble and religious man, and showed that by being a cantor at several Greek Orthodox Churches, including Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul in Haverhill, Saint Nectarios in Roslindale, and most recently at Saint Constantine and Helen in Cambridge. John loved traveling to Greece every summer for 2 to 3 months at his second home in Volos.

He was a loving and caring man that cherished his family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Survived by his loving sister Eleni Monty and husband Peter of Freemont, NH; caring nieces Joanne Ciampanelli and husband Anthony and Christina Monty; adored great-niece Hope Ciampanelli; many cousins and close friends in the United States and Greece. He was predeceased by his brother Vlasios Benelas.

His family would like the thank the staff of Tufts Medicine Hospice Care and Merrimack Valley Hospital for the tremendous care they gave John in his final days.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 20, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309. S. Main Street, Haverhill from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Funeral Service will take place on Friday in Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 154 Winter Street, Haverhill at 11:00 AM. Meet directly at the church. Interment will be in Linwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church Renovation Fund, 154 Winter Street, Haverhill, MA 01832. For guestbook, please visit www.driscollcares.com