PAPADAKOS, Xakousti 'Toula' (Eliopoulo)- 1932-2020 - Passed away on Monday, April 20, 2020.
Toula is predeceased by her husband George. She leaves behind to mourn her two sons: Costa and Adam and her loving grandkids: Samantha, Eleni, Jonathan, Kristen and George.
A Letter to my beloved Grandmother ... My Beloved YiaYia passed away and I would like to introduce you to her..,
This past weekend we lost this incredible woman. She was fiercely independent. The hardest worker I have ever met. A forever dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. A role model to me in so many ways.
My YiaYia came to Canada in the 50’s in search of a better life, when tragically she lost her husband only a short while after their arrival. Quickly she had to learn a new language, a new culture, and how to raise two boys with little money, on her own. She did what she knew best, put her head down and went to work. She took such pride in what she had earned. She always had a clean home, a full garden, fresh laundry, and ready to “make you whatever you like to eat”. She literally would have given you the shirt of her back. She always put others needs ahead of her own.
Her story deserves to be told, and I’m proud to share it. She was the best example of the Canadian dream. Work hard and provide for the future generations to have a better life. I am forever grateful for her sacrifices.
Although it was her time, it was just bad timing. Sometimes it seemed like she couldn’t ever catch a break. This strange COVID time we are in has made things challenging for all of us. We are doing our part with distancing and making changes to our day to day lifestyles, but it comes at a great emotional cost. It breaks my heart that she won’t be able to get the proper church funeral she deserves. It kills me that I only got to spend 45 seconds with her having to say goodbye over the phone. I wish I could have been by her side so she didn’t have to pass alone in the hospital. I’m also upset with myself that it took me this long to put so much of what and how she did things throughout her life into perspective.
The ups and downs are what make us human. I am learning and growing, and as hard as it has been, I am so incredibly thankful knowing it was in fact, my YiaYia who gave me the tools I would need to overcome life’s obstacles.
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