With immense sadness, we announce the passing of Panagiota Graffos on Thursday, August 29, 2024, in Vancouver, BC, at the age of 89.
Panagiota was born in Sykea, Laconia, Greece, on August 22, 1935, to her loving parents, Niko and Katerina Doumakis. She was a beloved big sister to Mary (Kosta), George, Vicky (Dino), Jim (Orianthi) and Loula (George).
At the age of 21, Panagiota made the courageous decision to leave behind her family and friends in Greece and join her beloved Angelos in Canada. On December 16, 1956 they were married and as a couple embarked on a wonderful journey which began in Powell River, BC. Immigrating to Canada for a better life was a dream come true, however they, like all newcomers from a foreign land, were faced with overwhelming challenges. With love, strength, resilience, hope and faith, they successfully navigated these challenges and began building their life together finding work, forming new friendships, and creating a family and home. And in 1962, they moved to their final destination, Vancouver, BC where they settled down and continued to build their family whilst also mentoring and assisting other family members to immigrate to Vancouver from Greece. Panagiota was very proud of her rich heritage and never forgot her homeland and those she left behind. She and Angelos frequently vacationed in Sykea creating cherished memories with their children and grandchildren.
Panagiota and Angelos were blessed with two children, Alex (Vicky) and Matena (Tom), and five cherished grandchildren: Angelo, Spencer, Paige, Niko, and Angelo. Yiayia Pota’s unconditional love, patience, wisdom, generosity, soothing voice, passion for traditions, delicious cooking and loving hugs will be greatly missed.
For Panagiota, family and the church community were the cornerstones of her life, and she dedicated herself to both with unwavering love and devotion. She had a deep love for cooking and creating family dinners, not just for her immediate family but also for her extended family and friends. Her husband's yearly name day parties were particularly special, with preparations starting a week in advance. Panagiota's famous jello and Ekmek cake were enjoyed by all and made everyone feel like they were part of her family. As a volunteer, she shared her passion for cooking by helping with the Greek Food Festival, Philoptohos, school events, St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church events and Lacons and Peace Arch picnics. Not only did she create cooking masterpieces but her creativity also shone through while she was employed as a seamstress with local designers such as Zonda Nellis and Plum Clothing Company.
Panagiota battled cancer for over 4.5 years, showing incredible strength and determination from the beginning until the end. Her family and friends were a huge part of this journey and doctors and nurses often remarked on how lucky she was to have such a strong support system . Each day with Panagiota was a gift, and her resilience and spirit will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved her.
The family thanks the entire team at BC Cancer Agency and the VGH Acute Care-Elderly for their incredible care. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the BC Cancer Society or St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral Vancouver.
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