James N. Decoulos, an attorney who built his own practice and then filled the rest of his hours with whatever craft or skill caught his interest next, died Monday, November 9, 2026, with his family around him. He was 70.
He was born January 20, 1956, in Peabody, to Nicholas and Helen Decoulos. He married Marilyn Decoulos on March 15, 1986, and the two built a life together over 40 years. He was a proud father to Deanna, Demetri and Katina, and his family says he passed along more than knowledge and skills: curiosity, determination, creativity and an appreciation for life itself.
He followed his father into the law and built and ran his own practice. The courtroom, though, was only one of his rooms. He was a lifelong learner who took up cooking, gardening, pottery, camping, karate and tai chi, as well as craftsmanship, writing and photography, and approached each with the same enthusiasm, never content to stop learning. Cooking was the favorite, and his paella became the signature dish he was proud to put in front of family and friends.
His family describes him as an inspiration and a role model to his children and to everyone who knew him, a man who showed that a life well lived is one that is continually cultivated, created, shared and filled with color. They say they will carry him forward in the meals they share, the things they make, the skills they keep learning and the connections they build with others.
Visitation is Thursday, November 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 7 Paleologos Street, Peabody, with a funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. Burial follows in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are invited.
Flowers may be sent directly to St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody. In place of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, by mail to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or online at CareDimensions.org/Donate, with a note directing the gift to the Kaplan Family Hospice House. Arrangements are by Solimine Funeral Homes, Lynn.
Compiled from information published by Solimine Funeral Homes. Photograph courtesy of the family via Solimine Funeral Homes. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
