Helen James Piperis

Helen was born in Sacramento, CA, to immigrant parents, Jim and Katina Paras (Paraskaki) of Skopelos, Greece and Palea Roumata, Crete. Helen fell asleep in the Lord on May 27, 2021 comforted by family members by her side.

Helen was a bright child who enjoyed reading and writing. She grew up singing in the Greek Orthodox Church choir in Sacramento and playing violin. In 1950, Helen married James (Jim) Piperis of Nemea, Greece via Oakland, CA. They lived in Oakland and San Leandro, CA, where they raised their three children, Elaine, George and John. Helen and her family were active in the Oakland Ascension Greek Orthodox Church, and were founding members of the Castro Valley Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church.

In 1963 Helen and Jim opened the world-famous Pipers Restaurant in San Leandro, California. Together they ran the smorgasbord restaurant, known for its impeccable fried chicken and luscious cinnamon pull-apart bread, until Jim's passing in 1987. Not only was Helen an entrepreneur, mother, and wife, she also sat on the boards of several local organizations including Bay Bank of Commerce.

Anyone who met Helen knew that her true passion in life was her dogs. She was a renowned breeder and owner of Airedale Terrier show dogs, known by their "GOFORIT" kennel name. She dedicated her life to sharing her knowledge and beauty of Airedales, promoting the breed, and working with the California Airedale Terrier Club for over 60 years as an officer and board member, writing articles for the newsletter, and traveling far and wide to compete in specialties and all-breed shows. Although Helen showed over 15 Airedales to their championships, she was most proud of her Champions Panache and Bunny who won the National Specialty at Montgomery and showed at Westminster.

Helen took time away from her beloved dogs to travel the world. She went on Safari in Kenya and brought back photos of wild elephants and giraffes. She told her grandchildren she saw a Tasmanian Devil when she visited Australia, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea. She visited Greece several times from the 1950s to the 1990s and loved connecting with extended family especially in her father's village of Palea Roumata.

Some of Helen's favorite things were sharing newspaper clippings, or jokes she heard on late-night television. Jay Leno's were always her favorite because "he was never crude or vulgar." In the heyday of counterculture centered in Berkeley and San Francisco, Helen would go to concerts, seeing acts like Jefferson Airplane, Elvis Presley, and more. In her 70s, Helen took up a new hobby and dove deep into the world of hand-beading necklaces. She took classes, scoured antique stores for unique pieces, and won awards for necklaces she submitted to competitions. This is part of what made Helen such a timeless person; her deep affinity for adventure and new things.

In her mid-80s, Helen moved from the Bay Area and the house she had lived in for 45 years to Sacramento to be closer to her sisters and extended family. She spent those final years in her hometown exploring Sacramento and being entertained by three young great-nieces who brought her so much joy. She would go to the gym with her sisters Mary and Sophia, and would always lend a helping hand at the annual Greek Festival in Sacramento. She enjoyed taking her little dog, Diva, an award-winning Brussels Griffon, on walks in her East Sacramento neighborhood.

Helen never stopped doing what she loved, whether it was taking grandchildren, nieces and nephews to museums and musicals, going shopping for antiques, collecting early California oil paintings, discovering new restaurants, and reading voraciously. She welcomed people into her home without hesitation. She always had a roast in the oven or a hot cup of coffee waiting for you. Helen was fiercely independent, a loyal friend, and insisted on living life on her terms.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Elaine Sotiropulos (Kopi), son, George Piperis, and son, John James (Youli), grandchildren Anastasia Sotiropulos, Vasili Sotiropulos (Crystal), Dimitri James, Costa James, great-grandson, Prokopi, sister, Mary Curtis, sister, Sophia Theodore, sister, Kiki Econome, brother, Kostantinos Paras (Carole), and sister Antonia Chapralis (Tim), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. Helen is preceded in death by her brothers Manoli and Joey, as well as her beloved husband Jim.

Services will be held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Sacramento, CA.

Due to current health concerns and in compliance with local pandemic directives, we are continuing to enforce guidelines and facemasks are required. Services will be streamed via our broadcast system; to pray with us online, please visit www.annunciationsac.org/live-services at the dates and times listed below.

Trisagion: Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 7pm

Funeral: Friday, June 4, 2021 at 10am

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to:

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund

600 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816

or

Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund

20074 Center Street, Castro Valley, CA 94546

or Charity of the donor's choosing.