Passed away peacefully on Wednesday November 19, 2025. Predeceased by loving husband Nick and devoted mother to Peter (Rita) & Tom. Sophia was a jubilantly proud Yiayia to Nicholas, Nicole, Alexander, Olivia and Maria who meant the world to her.

Sophia left this world as she had long expressed to be her wish – serenely and in the comfort of the loving home that she built together with her life partner and husband, Nick. Her walls adorned with a multitude of photos of her laughing and smiling grandchildren that she would gaze at to help lift her spirits, and of course, the many religious icons as befitting a woman of strong Orthodox Christian faith.

Her journey in life began as the third of four children, and the only daughter, of Nicholas and Athanasia Stathopoulos, in the small hamlet of Grekou in the region of Arcadia, Greece. As it was for so many during those years, life was exceptionally harsh for simple farmers in this part of the world. When Sophia was but 3 years of age, tragedy befell the family with the passing of her father from pneumonia. Her father had returned from abroad exploring Chicago as a destination to emigrate to when he fell ill. His passing was made all the more challenging for the family because her mother was pregnant at the time with her younger brother, Nico. Her elder brothers Kosta (Gus) and Tasso now quickly thrust into responsibilities well beyond their years had no choice but to do what they could to ensure the continued survival of the farm and the family. They relied on each other, the bonds of the extended family and village community and always, the strength of their faith to guide them through those difficult times.

In 1957, at the age of 28, the industrious and well seasoned farm girl Sophia and her mother left Greece to join her brothers who had emigrated to Toronto. She quickly settled into work as a seamstress in one of the many factories in the garment district of the time along Spadina Avenue. Those were exciting times for the bustling and growing Greek community in Toronto. Dances were typically organized for Feast Days and other such special celebrations through the church. While it was an ebullient and exciting time, for a late twenty-something Greek female new immigrant, without any prospective groom in sight, let it suffice to say - there was significant worry. It wasn’t that there weren’t any interested suitors – it’s just that, as Sophia would tell it, quite simply, there was no one that appealed to her.

It was at one of these church socials that her brother Tasso befriended another recent immigrant, Nick. Nick was from another small village within Arcadia called Chranoi. He was outgoing, charming, he loved to dance, and he was a hardworking fellow. After meeting the other brothers, and attaining their approval, arrangements were then made to introduce Nick to their sister.

As the story goes, after the meeting when Sophia was asked what she thought of this young man from Chranoi, she coyly replied, “If he will have me, I will have him.” And so, it began. They were married on May 10, 1958, at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto.

In the ensuing years, Sophia and Nick welcomed their sons, Peter and Tom. The work ethic that she had refined from the long hours working the farm fields and tending to the livestock she now channeled into building a home for her family. She was tireless. Sophia relished this new chapter of her life, and she immersed herself selflessly and dutifully in creating a home filled with love. To Sophia and Nick, it was abundantly clear to anyone who knew them - family was everything. In addition to maintaining her home, it was known within the neighbourhood that Sophia had a green thumb and her vegetable garden was unsurpassed year after year. She always had time for her growing boys, no matter how long her day had been. This is what she long dreamed of, and she was grateful, thanking God for all her blessings. When the boys were a little older, Sophia would accompany Nick to the restaurant where they worked side by side for many years, pursuing Nick’s passion and dream.

In the years to come, Sophia and Nick were blessed with grandchildren. To say that she adored her grandchildren is an understatement of the highest order. She always welcomed the coming of Easter, Christmas, Feast Days, birthdays and other such special events where she could indulge them. She took great joy in preparing for days by cooking traditional Greek meals, baking desserts and by decorating the home in preparation for her grandchildren. Nothing gave her more happiness than to have the family around her dining room table, laughing and sharing stories about latest happenings in their lives. The love was palpable and has left a lasting and indelible imprint on all of us.

In his latter years, Nick developed dementia. Sophia, ever dutiful, cared for him in their home until she could not physically any longer. His passing in 2021 left a great void in her life, but she did not dwell in sadness. She knew that they would one day meet again. In recent weeks, as her physical strength waned, she made it abundantly clear that she patiently welcomed the day when she would be reunited with her soul mate, Nick. Ever the loving Yiayia, when one called to see how she was doing, she would always quickly turn the conversation to ask how you were, and then invariably, she would by name, one by one, enquire about the grandchildren as to how they were, and what they were doing these days. Even in her dying last days, just as she had lived her entire life, her thoughts were always about others.

You will be sorrowfully missed. May God rest your soul and provide to you the peace and tranquility of Eternal Life.

Visitation to be held at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel (2357 Bloor Street West), Toronto, Sunday from 2-4 pm and 6-9 p.m.

The Funeral Rite will take place at Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral (136 Sorauren Avenue) on Monday, November 24, 2025 at 11:00 am.

Burial to follow at Parklawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made to Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral through the following link:
https://www.greekcommunity.org/the-virgin-mary-cathedral (please copy and paste this url into a new browser window)