VASSILIA VASSILIADIS

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VASSILIA VASSILIADIS 1909 - 2007 With sad hearts, we announce that Vassilia Vassiliadis died on March 4, 2007. She was predeceased by her husband, Epaminondas, her sister, Athena Georgiades, her brother, Stephanos Couvaris, and her son-in-law, Dr. John Varsamis. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Katie Varsamis and Mary Veenhuyzen, her son-in-law Hans Veenhuyzen, her grandchildren, Yorgo (Jan, Mia) Veenhuyzen and Carla (John, Daniel) van der Zweep, and her nieces and nephews, Stella, Chris, Harris, and Stavros (Kim O'Brien) Iacovides, as well as her nieces and nephews in Greece and countless others whose hearts could not help but be touched by her kind and generous spirit. Vasso was born on the Greek island of Ikaria. She grew up there and in Alexandria, Egypt where, after the early death of her father, she and her siblings were raised by their mother. Vasso learned a powerful work ethic and how to cook magnificent meals and desserts. She married Epaminondas and had two daughters. She immigrated with her girls and their budding families to Canada, where she took great pride and joy in helping to raise her grandchildren. She also cared diligently for her husband throughout his fight against cancer. She enjoyed a very close family life in her new home, and she continued to care for her entire family and fix the most delectable dishes they could imagine well into her eighties. She was soft spoken, humble, an early riser, a tireless worker, and a very wise woman with rare insight and refreshing points of view. Eventually, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis caused her unimaginable suffering for nearly a decade. Throughout that battle, she remained focused on the blessings in her life, including the care of her loving daughters, and especially her great-grandchildren, Daniel and Mia. She was not once angry, and she had the sweetest smile and the softest, nicest hands one could possibly imagine. Those hands fed us, raised us, and held us all together, and now that they are gone, we will, for the rest of our lives, remember to keep dear to our hearts, that which was always dearest to hers: family. We would like to thank Eva Kilopoulos for the time she spent with Vasso, and for her love, dedication, and friendship over the years. We would also like to thank the nursing staff at the Grace Hospital for their compassion and excellent care. Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the St. James Home Care Program case coordinators, and especially the indispensable home care workers - our angels - who cared for Vasso with kindness, love and understanding, and always with a smile on their faces. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 11:30 a.m., at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Interment will follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 Broadway 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 08, 2007