Our sweet mother Georgia passed away on Sunday April 14th. She was 89 years old. She was tired and decided it was time to join our father. She had overcome numerous health issues in her life including cancer and Covid. She beat both at the same time! In the past year, she suffered from numerous age-related illnesses. With her declining health, the past several months had been challenging, especially for my brother Larry and my sister-in-law, Doris. Our mother had been living with them for the past seven years since our father passed away. Full credit goes to them and their family for the care and love they showed.

Beloved wife of Sideris (deceased). Loving mother of Christos (Michelle), and Leonidas (Doris). Cherished yiayia of Emily, Alex, and Athena. Dear sister of Dimitrios, Stavroula, Panayiota, and Eleftheria.

My mother's story was typical of millions of European immigrants. She was born in 1935 in a tiny olive and orange farming village in southern Greece just a 10 minute drive from Sparta. As a child she helped tend to the family farm which included herding sheep as a 12 year old. To this day we still get olives that are grown there by my cousins. She survived the Second World War and the Nazi occupation of her village. She witnessed numerous atrocities including her father and older brother being taken prisoner and luckily returning. She survived the subsequent Greek civil war. In 1953, at the age of 17 she left her parents and she came to Canada in search of something better. She actually had to lie about her age in order to come. She could not speak a word of English and had a grade-six education.

Through sheer determination she built a life here. She married my father who passed away seven years ago at the age of 90. They were married for 56 years. They both worked extremely hard and built a business and raised a family. And even with the hardships that she had faced in her life, she still considered herself very lucky.

My mother loved being around other people. You could always tell that her greatest joy came from family gatherings. She was at her happiest when she was with her children, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and especially her grandchildren.

My mother was a strong person (Spartan blood) but at the same time she could get very emotional if she saw someone in need. Perhaps she could relate given the hardships she experienced in her life. She was one of the most loving people I knew and she will be missed.

The viewing will be at Turner & Porter "Peel" Chapel, 2180 Hurontario St., Mississauga (Hwy 10 N. of Q.E.W) on Monday, April 22nd from 5-9 p.m.

Funeral Service will be held at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, 1785 Matheson Blvd. E., Mississauga, on Tuesday, April 23rd at 10 a.m.

The interment will be at St. John’s Dixie Cemetery.

Rest in peace mom. You've earned your rest.

Η μνήμη της να είναι αιώνια.