GEORGIOS (GEORGE) GAMVRELIS

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GEORGIOS (GEORGE) GAMVRELIS Peacefully, on Sunday, January 13, 2008 after a courageous battle with metastatic cancer, George entered into rest at the Grace General Hospital at the age of 66 years. Remaining to forever cherish Georgios' memory are his spouse Hrisoula in Winnipeg; son Metaxas and wife Sandra and their children Tiandra and Tyler in Calgary; daughter Panayota and her husband Rod Johnson and their two Chihuahuas Goldie and Bella in Winnipeg; mother Marika; brother Vasilios and his spouse Irini in Kavala; nephew Metaxas in Kavala; niece Maria in Athens, Greece; sisters in-law, Ioanna Moukios and Caliopi Tasidis and her spouse Hari in Kavala, Greece; as well as his good friends, Andreas Boulas, Vasilios Kalamidas, Vasilios Janetos, Nikos Petrou and Dimitrios Akiozoglou in Greece; his uncle Themis Gamvrelis; his aunts, Rigoula and Voula Gamvrelis and Marika Mitousis and many cousins in Winnipeg and Greece. He was predeceased by his father Metaxas (August 28, 1989). Georgios entered the world June 15, 1941 at Theologos on the island of Thassos, Greece. At the age of four, his parents moved to the picturesque, port town of Kavala. On July 17, 1946, Georgios was blessed with his brother, Vasilios. Georgios attended Prophet Elias school with his brother and good friends, Andreas Boulas, Vasilios Kalamidas and Vasilios Janetos. Georgios and his friends grew up simply by enjoying the beaches, surrounding hills and energetic games of soccer. From a young age, he assisted in his father's coffee shop and had an easy-going, entrepreneurial spirit. Between the ages of 22 and 24, he proudly fulfilled his military duties in various areas of Greece and was a regular blood donor. In spring of 1961, Georgios met Hrisoula Moukios whom he wed on April 27, 1965. In the ensuing years, Georgios was re-drafted into military service three times due to the escalating tensions between Turkey and Greece while trying to operate two coffee shops in Kavala. He welcomed his son into his family on January 19, 1966 and his daughter on July 9th, 1974. A number of Gamvrelises immigrated to Winnipeg in the 1950s and, in 1969, Georgios' brother and his family followed. In 1973, Georgios' father immigrated to Winnipeg to join some of his siblings. After considerable discussions with his brother and father, Georgios became convinced that Winnipeg held more promise than his home-land and, on October 14, 1974, Georgios and his family moved to Winnipeg's north end. For three years Georgios and his brother worked as welders at Versatile Manufacturing while their spouses worked as seamstresses. Money didn't seem to go as far in the new land and, in 1976, with much encouragement from their father, they decided to go into business for themselves. In 1977, they purchased the Happy Penny Donut Palace in Winnipeg's downtown and promptly transformed it into a restaurant with full course, home-cooked meals. The two brothers were instantly loved by the downtown clientele and business flourished making the 125 hour work weeks somehow appear bearable. Georgios took this opportunity to relocate his family to an almost new home in St. James; a move that proved fortunate for his children. In 1980, the entire family was shocked to hear that the business would be expropriated, with minimal compensation, to make way for downtown revitalization. The family assumed more debt and moved the business to another downtown location only to be expropriated again in 1985 with similar compensation. At that point, Georgios and his brother decided to pursue opportunities independently. Georgios opened Pegasus Restaurant on Pembina Highway, sold it a few years later and purchased Dutch Maid on Portage Avenue in St. James. He successfully operated this location for the next 11 years. Prior to retirement, he operated the Wall Street Cafe. Georgios' greatest achievement was proudly persevering through the Canadian years to give his children opportunities that they likely would not have had in Greece. He made many friends with his easy smile and affable manner. His greatest disappointment was the tremendous struggle his entire family, and particularly his wife, suffered trying to make a decent living in Canada. Georgios has moved on with a spotless 30 year driving record. On Thursday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m., Georgios' Funeral Service will be held in the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Avenue with Rev. Fr. Gianniou Dimitrios presider. Interment will follow in Brookside Cemetery, 3001 Notre Dame Avenue. Pallbearers will be Kuriakos Hatzipanayis, George Gamvrelis, Constantine Gamvrelis, Gabriel Gamvrelis, Vangelis Cavadas and Ryan Johnson. Georgios was grateful for his daughter's and his son-in-law's close support during his struggle with cancer. He was also thankful to spend quality time with his son and his family during multiple vacations. Georgios also appreciated the unwavering friendship and assistance of his good friend and best man Dimitrios Akiozoglou and his spouse Evdoxia throughout his years. A special thanks to Donald Ives for his trustworthiness and friendship. Lastly, the family extends its appreciation to Dr. Pat Harris, the oncology nurses and the palliative care nurses at the Grace Hospital for extending his life and providing him dignified comfort in his final moments. To have striven, to have made the effort, to have been true to certain ideals - this alone is worth the struggle.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 16, 2008