Demi "Toula" Mourafetis

Our beloved mother, Demi Mourafetis (Toula to her Greek family members) passed away on September 25th, 2024 at the age of 88. She was a bright light in this world and will be missed by so many. Mom’s always funny personality and positive outlook brought smiles and moments of happiness to all she met.

Born into a large Greek family of eleven children in 1936, Mom grew up in North Chicago, IL. Her childhood was centered around their church, St. Demetrios, family life, and tradition. When her father developed heart issues, Mom, ever the hard worker, took a job in her early teens at a drug store to help support the family. It would be the beginning of a life filled with hard work, a long successful career, and giving others around her opportunities she wasn’t born into.

Upon graduating high school, she took a job in Medical Records at Highland Park Hospital. Without a car, she commuted two hours a day via bus and train working long hours. Her entire paycheck went to her Dad for the family’s needs. To hear her describe it though, it wasn’t a struggle. She enjoyed meeting new people and making money for her family. And she became good at her job. So good that she was hired in 1959 into the inaugural Medical Records Director position at the newly opened Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL. She held that position for 42 years as the small hospital grew into the giant healthcare provider it is today. Mom truly loved her job. The hospital in those years was a big family and Mom fit right in. She was always the funny one whom people gravitated towards. The doctors especially liked her. Mom would cut them slack if they were late on their charts and not limit their patient admissions. Her office was always a busy stop-in for doctors looking to take a break and laugh over Greek pastries that Mom had baked. They loved her so much that when she retired, she was honored with a large plaque with her picture on it, which hangs on the wall of the doctors lounge to this very day.

Mom married the love of her life, Basil (Bill) on June 6th, 1959. It was D-Day, or as she would put it, Demi’s Day. They were married for 64 years! They met one Sunday morning as Mom was driving her dad’s car to church. Bill, who was in training at Great Lakes Naval Base, happened to be walking to church himself. As he put it, he was minding his own business when out of nowhere a car pulls up closely behind him honking it’s horn. Thinking he might get run over, he turned and saw this beautiful young woman driving. “Come on, get in. Don’t walk. I’ll drive you to church.” It was exactly something she would do. Mom won him over that very day during coffee hour with her funny outgoing personality, and they never looked back.

Mom and Dad would settle into a house in Palatine, IL and have three boys of their own: George, Billy, and Jim. They were born four years apart. Mom was already planning out how to give them the college opportunities she didn’t have. They baptized their children at St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines and attended St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, of which they were founding members. Mom and Dad were a great team. Dad loved spending time with his boys, never missing a game and coaching Little League. Mom worked long days and cooked our dinner at night. It was a lot of hard work. Both parents working wasn’t common in those days. But to Mom, with her positive personality, providing her kids with a wonderful childhood and college opportunities came first. And they succeeded: George (Fremd High School Valedictorian) to Carleton College and Rush Medical school, Bill to the Air Force Academy, and Jim to Purdue University.

However, as so much of life can be, their peaceful suburban life was hit hard with the tragic early unexpected death of their beloved George. Mom and Dad never really recovered from the loss of their oldest son. However, as time wore on, the births of their four grandchildren, Michael, Chrissie, Jameson, and Sam, would help lessen the pain. Mom and Dad, now affectionately known as Papou and YiaYia, soon centered their life around their grandchildren. Mom would eventually retire from Northwest Community Hospital at age 67. However, still full of energy, she continued working, managing a long-time friend Dr. Christopolous’ practice. Now in their 70’s, Mom and Dad found themselves both retired but enjoying their time together at their house in Palatine. Outside of visiting with family, they spent their lunches at Portillos and their dinners watching Wheel of Fortune. Dad kept his yard immaculate and watched his grandkids sports. Mom passed her time lunching with friends and shopping for her grandchildren. They spent holidays entertaining with big Greek meals at their house, usually with children, grandchildren, and their closest relatives, Teddy and Bill Gerontakis. They were always available to watch their grandkids and helped out on short notice many times. Mom and Dad were also fortunate to spend many summers in Greece with relatives and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on an Aegean sea cruise.

After Mom entered her 80’s, as tragically seems to happen to so many these days, memory issues began to creep into her life. Slowly, but noticeably, her sharp mind and focus began to give way. As anyone who has witnessed a loved one age in this manner understands, it’s not easy. But, remarkably for Mom, her sense of humor and loving kindness never wavered. Whether it was family get-togethers, doctor’s appointments, or later on caregivers, she always found a way to break through and put a smile on people’s faces. Mom truly loved people and loved making them feel loved. And people sensed that love and felt the same for her. She was truly a special person in that way. No amount of aging or illness could ever take that from her.

We have so many wonderful memories of our dear mother. Such as she loved to dance to Greek music. Many a night in her retired years she’d dance in the family room to Greek TV music shows. Mom also was one of those people who had a new joke to tell and celebrated April 1st every year. She was always making people laugh! Through her job at Northwest, she was able to help relatives and friends find jobs when in need. At least four close family members, and even later on Dad, were able to get good jobs through her contacts. Her three sons all worked there while in high school. Mom always felt empathy towards others. Coming from a poor childhood herself, she would give money out of her purse when people asked. And even in her last years, she never stopped asking everyone around her if they needed any money. Mom truly was always thinking of everyone but herself.

Mom’s closest friend and love, her beloved husband Bill, passed away only six months ago at the age of 94. Seeing them not together made one feel that something in the universe had gone astray. They truly had become one and their separation could not last long. Mom passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family.

Demi Mourafetis lived a long and fruitful life characterized by hard work, a positive outlook, and putting others first. She will forever be remembered as that energetic, funny, loving person who would light up a room and brought all those around her smiles and joy. She touched so many people over her 88 years. The world will be a little less bright without her, but we know that she’s in a better place with her beloved Bill.

May God bless her soul!

May her memory be eternal!

We love you, Mom. We’ll never forget you. You’ll forever be a part of us.

Our mom is survived by: sons William (Bill) with his wife Stephanie; and James (Jim) with his wife Julie; grandchildren Michael (spouse Laura), Chrissie, Jameson, Sam and CJ (spouse Haley); and five great grandchildren (Michael & Laura’s children: Luke & John), and (CJ & Haley’s children: Curtis, Harrison & Elizabeth).

A visitation for Toula will be held Wednesday October 2nd, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 3431 Trickum Rd, Marietta, GA 30066, followed by church service at 11:00 AM. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/FFWrFJb8Tns?si=PkUq-Z6wMqu0WwTF

Toula will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Bill in Green Lawn Cemetery, 950 Mansell Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076 after the church service.

Afterwards we will be celebrating mom’s life at Vas Kouzina (Greek restaurant) in downtown Roswell at 942 Alpharetta Street, Roswell, GA 30075.

Contributions in Toula’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/