Kiki Perrou Hassapelis, age 88 of High Point, North Carolina passed away peacefully on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Kiki was born on April 19,1936 in Konteika, Samos Greece; a daughter of the late George Perrou and Sophia "Souphoula" Katsikas. She was one of seven siblings. Kiki came to the United States in 1955 with her husband Steve Dan Hassapelis and they opened their first restaurant in 1964, Steve's Pizza House. After owning and operating numerous restaurants, they opened The Village Cafe in College Village Shopping Center of High Point, which they ran for 16 years with family.
After her husband of over 44 years passed away on October 30,1999 Mama Kiki retired, but couldn't stop baking and cooking! Kiki sat for seven years and just couldn't sit anymore. She said I'm Thankful that God put me in this country, because in this country you can be anything you want to be... as long as you want to". At this time, Mama Kiki decided to open The Village Cafe Express at 906 Greensboro Road, High Point, NC. The Village Cafe Express was an American Greek/Italian restaurant that the locals enjoyed and loved and many still remember to this day. Mama Kiki said "everybody feels that when you feed them, you're their Mama!"
Mama Kiki retired again at the tender age of 81, after running the Village Cafe Express for ten years. Kiki's health declined after Covid in 2020.
Her greatest joy and the most important thing to her was family. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, Michael-Reid and Stephen Daniel Hooper. Kiki helped raise her grandsons. She took them to Greek school and dance in Winston Salem twice a week and made meals for the family everyday.
When Steve and Kiki came to High Point in 1955, they became lifetime members of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in High Point, where they were actively involved in the church. She loved being a faithful servant of St. George Greek Orthodox Church. She would bake cookies for the spaghetti dinners to raise money for the different charities for St. George for years. Back in the 70's and 80's, she would go out with her sister Katina and sale tickets for the formal Greek dances that was held at "The Top of the Mart" of High Point and would travel to Winston Salem, Charlotte, Greensboro, and surrounding triad to get folks to attend. Kiki served on the Board of the Philoptochos Society and for a period of time served as the President. She also was honored to receive the Archangel Michael Award.
Preceded Kiki's death is her daughter; Helen "Elaine" Hassapelis Sarrimanolis, three brothers; Yiannakos Perrou, Demetri Perrou and Mike Perrou, three sisters; Georgia Perrou Panousou, Angeliko Perrou Christou and Katina Perrou Nixon.
Survivors are her daughter; Sophia Hassapelis and husband Thomas Smith, two grandsons; Michael-Reid Hooper Jr. and Michelle, Stephen Daniel and Megan Smith Hooper; one granddaughter; Zafera Sarrimanolis Aaron and Aaron Aaron, three great-grandchildren; Sullivan Smith Stavros, Weston Wynn George Hooper, and Benjamin Aaron, her first cousin Mary Katsikas, along with her Big Fat Greek Family and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
To all the nurses, doctors, and staff at Wake Forest Baptist Health-High Point Medical Center who took care of Mama Kiki, the family is forever grateful and thankful for all your help.
The Trisagion Service will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 6 p.m. The Visitation will be held Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. The Funeral Service will be Thursday November 14, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in High Point.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to St. George Greek Orthodox Church of High Point. The family is under the care of Sechrest-Davis Funerals and Cremations. Online condolences may be shared at www.SechrestDavisPhillipsAvenue.com - select obituaries.
