Virginia Kyriakopoulos

May 6, 1934 - February 10, 2023

Virginia died peacefully, holding the hand of her son Jim and hearing his voice speaking to her, at 3:30 am on Friday, February 10, 2023, at Humber River Hospital, after a difficult and painful hospital stay. She was surrounded by family at her bedside all day and night throughout her hospitalization.

Reunited in heaven with her beloved parents, Dimitrios and Eleni, her brothers, Elias (Diamado) and Constantinos (Aspasia). Loving and beloved mother to Helen (Vassilios), Anthony (Aggeliki) and Jim. Cherished grandmother to her grandchildren John, Virginia, Metaxia, Christina, and Sophia (Dan). Leaves behind her beloved brother Ioannis (Voula) in Greece and many nieces and nephews, cousins and other extended family members and friends in Canada, Greece, Germany and the USA.

Visitations will be held at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church (1 Brookhaven Dr. at Trethewey Dr. - west of Black Creek Dr.) on Monday, February 13, 2023, at 3-8 pm. Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated in the Church on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 10 am. Burial will follow at York Cemetery (160 Beecroft Rd., north of Sheppard Ave. - west of Yonge St.).

For those unable to attend the Funeral Liturgy in person, you are welcome to participate virtually via Sts. Constantine & Helen's YouTube Page.

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Our fierce protector in life, our best friend and confidante, our adored mother is no more. Our hearts are broken. After a painful, prolonged illness, she passed away peacefully onto the Lord, holding the hand and hearing the voice of her beloved youngest son.

Motherless at a young age, she relied on the love of her father and three brothers until she made her own family and had her own three children. Deprived of her husband at a young age, she fought tooth and nail on her own to create a secure and loving environment for her children. Throughout her life, she managed to overcome her many struggles and challenges with sheer strength of character, hard work and an amazing optimism, contentment, and acceptance of what she couldn’t change. She loved life and treasured every moment with us. She relied on her strong faith for strength until the end when, in her last hours, she struggled to stay alive so she could ger the last visit and sacraments from her church before she passed on.

She started out on her own with nursing at St. Michael’s hospital where she showed great compassion to her patients. During this time, she held down two other part time jobs in order to give her children BEYOND the necessities in life.

Not too long after, she fearlessly dived into a new vocation, and without any previous experience in the field she opened up her own successful clothing business. The House of Fashion was a staple for over 45 years on Eglinton, for many generations of the same families, who became loyal customers and friends. With much self-reflection and reluctance, she closed the business and retired at 82.

Her home was always welcoming to people from many cultures and backgrounds, politicians of every stripe and even community organizers. She somehow found time to actively participate in Greek diaspora organizations. Indeed, she was a trailblazer and became one of the founding members and the first woman of the board of directors of Ilion Association back in the 60’s, where she found many friends from her former home abroad and where she made many new lifelong ones. She could for years be seen parading down the Danforth, first on her own, then with her grandchildren, holding both the Greek and Canadian flags proudly at the annual Greek parades. Proud of her culture and roots, and equally proud of her new homeland.

She was a formidable and tireless force to be reckoned with in philanthropic and church organizations, charity fundraisers and political campaigning. Mom’s kindness and endless willingness to self-sacrifice and help whoever needed it is legendary, as are her organizing skills to bring people together for a cause. With hard work, perseverance, stubbornness, a can-do attitude and tremendous inner strength, she was a mentor to many who were fortunate to seek her out. A great example of humanity, success, loyalty to family, whom she literally lived for.

She leaves behind huge shoes for her children and grandchildren and their spouses to fill, but we learned from the best and we won’t let her down. Mom also leaves behind a much-loved brother and many relatives overseas, and countless friends in Canada and overseas as well

We will miss your gentle presence and heart of gold, mom. You taught us that family, decency, love, strength of character and persistence in the face of adversity and hard work are a must in life. May you rest in peace among the angels. You will always be alive through the things you taught us by your own example. We will always have you in our hearts and thoughts and we love you beyond measure.

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Flowers are welcomed but for those who wish, a donation may be made in Virginia’s name to the Hellenic Home for the Aged (Winona site).