STAVROULA DOUVRIS (TAKOS)

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STAVROULA DOUVRIS (nee TAKOS) With profound sadness we announce our mother Stavroula Douvris ("Voula") of Winnipeg passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at the age of 74 years in the presence of her three children. Mom is survived by her children and grandchildren, Peter (Pam) - Adam and Nathan; Maria - Christopher; Tina (Eric) - Evan and Seth. She is also survived by her brothers Ioannis and Vangelis and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband Demetrios, her parents Konstantinos and Dimitra, her brother Pantelis and sister Mahi. An accomplished seamstress for a designer in Athens, Voula crossed an ocean to meet the man she was to marry and grow to love through a courtship conducted by mail. He had been smitten by a picture of her he had noticed in mom's cousin's house in Winnipeg. Now, after taking care of him when his health was failing, she travels to him again to a better place. Voula moved to Canada in 1961 and married her beloved "Tzimi". Soon after marriage Voula was busy raising and caring for a young family while coping with the struggles that many immigrant mothers of that era faced with being so far from home and family. When the children were old enough Voula resumed her work outside of the family home and went back to seamstressing with various garment manufacturers and ultimately worked the rest of her career alongside her husband cooking at "Grandpa's", the family-owned restaurant. Voula and Tzimi worked hard to prioritize the education of their children and to ensure the kids had more opportunities available to them than they had known when growing up back in Greece. She was adventurous and loved to travel and experience new things. Voula was also known as a very sweet, demure, supportive and loving person. After retirement, Voula spent many happy years at the lake with her husband making trays of spanakopita fresh from the garden. Nothing gave her more joy than doting over and admiring her grandchildren. We will miss our mom and yiayia dearly and will always cherish her loving ways and remember her warm "parea". The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of the Victoria General Hospital and Riverview Health Centre for their compassionate support and care helping make mom's last days comfortable. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Funeral services to be held at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Avenue. Prayers on Monday, May 19, at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service on Tuesday, May 20, at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at Waverley Memorial Gardens. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church or the Palliative Care Unit of the Riverview Health Centre.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 17, 2014