DEMETRIOS (JIM) KARVELAS

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DEMETRIOS (JIM) KARVELAS With family by his side, and after a courageous battle, Demetrios (Jim) fell asleep in the Lord on May 19, 2009. Born in Niata, Greece, on March 30, 1929, he lived through the difficult years of the Second World War and the Civil War in his homeland. He moved to Canada in 1956 and held several jobs. It was while working at Standard Aero that he met the love of his life, Jenny. They married in 1964. Always wanting to be his own boss, he left Standard and bought the Red Boot Drive Inn on Ness Avenue in St. James. He worked there tirelessly for over 45 years. Many a night he spent preparing his famous Karvys and chili. Over the years, he served thousands of customers and they kept coming back for more! He was always generous and hospitable, encouraging all friends and family to join him at the back of the restaurant where he would take their food order. You could not leave without eating something! Unfortunately, he never did fully recover from the sudden passing of his dear Jenny in 2004, a few months shy of their 40th anniversary. Dad and Mom made great personal sacrifices to raise and educate their sons, to instill in them the Orthodox Faith and Greek heritage, and send them on numerous trips to Greece. Demetrios was able to return to Greece one last time this past winter, having finally retired. While in Greece, he found some joy again and remarried, but only briefly before falling seriously ill and having to return to Canada prematurely. Demetrios is predeceased by his first wife, Jenny (nee Andrushko), his parents, John and Helen (Boosalis), his brother Nicholas, his parents-in-law, Peter and Katherine (Perchaluk), sisters-in-law Annie, Elsie Skakun and Mary Vereb, brothers-in-law Frank Vereb and Vasilios Mavromatopoulos and most recently by his nephew, Bryan Frick. He leaves to mourn his sister, Angela Mavromatopoulou, his new wife Rayna (Nenkova) and her family, his sons, John (Lisa Fournier) and Nicholas (Debra Arrowood), his much loved grandsons Demetrios, Chris and Gregory, as well as several in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends. The boys will sorely miss their Pappou . Prayers will take place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Avenue, on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral service will take place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on Friday May 22, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., with interment to follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue. Fr. Ted Paraskevopoulos will be officiating. Pallbearers will be Mr. George Matheos, Mr. Spiro Balageorge, Mr. Peter Avgeropoulos, Mr. Peter Andrushko, Mr. Nick Boosalis and Mr. Takis Iacovides. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Chris Christodoulou and Mr. George Spiridakos. Many thanks to the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at the St. Boniface General Hospital's Emergency Department, Cardiology Unit and Palliative Care ward. Thank you to his family doctor, Dr. Hartley and assistant Brenda. Thank you to Fr. Ted, Fr. Nick Tambakis and Fr. Efstathios Kontoravdis for their support and prayers. A special thank you to Dr. Chris and Cheryl Christodoulou and family for their help and support of Pappou over the years and especially in the recent months. Thank you to all his friends that came to the hospital, called and prayed for him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dad's memory to the Manitoba Hellenic Cultural Centre, 2255 Grant Avenue R3P 0S2. May his Memory be Eternal -Eonia I Mnimi

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 2009