Virginia Pazianos

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Virginia on March 31, 2022. She was a loving, devoted mother, Thea, Yiayia and friend to all whose lives she touched.

She left us while sleeping peacefully at her residence in Pioneer Ridge. She was in her 92nd year.

Born in Krokylion, Phokidos Greece in 1930 she witnessed incredible changes to her world. Her father had left with the promise that when he was settled in Canada he would send for his family which meant that her mother was left to care for 4 young girls. She endured many hardships. During the Civil War, her eldest sister Vasiliki was forcibly taken by guerilla forces and shortly after was buried at the cemetery in Krokylion.

At the age of 18 Virginia and her sister Effie, left their mother and immigrated to Canada in 1949. They boarded a ship bound for Montreal with hopes of reuniting with their father and a better life. Upon arriving in Montreal, with no knowledge of the English language and with much kindness from complete strangers, they managed to board a train heading for Winnipeg to meet a father who she had never met. Virginia did remember the taxi ride from the train station in Winnipeg. She saw a man walking and she called out ”Father” (one of the few english words she knew) to the taxi driver to let him know to stop. She had recognized her father from a picture her mother had shown her.

They moved to Thunder Bay some years later and that’s when Virginia met and married the love of her life, Kosta, in 1955.

Virginia was the beloved mother to Tom (Leila), Jim (Kim), Bess and a proud Yiayia to Dean. She was predeceased by her devoted husband Kosta, and sisters Vasiliki, Georgia and Effie.

Virginia lived a full life as a kind, compassionate, wonderful mother and homemaker. She enjoyed her walks, loved to cook and was skilled at knitting and crocheting. She would sometimes go to McNultys to look at the crocheted table linens and was able to reproduce them from memory when she got home.

Virginia’s devotion and faith in the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church was an essential part of her life. She was a member of the Ladies Philoptochos and volunteered at many of the church functions. Most of all she loved her family and instilled strong values in all of us. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Virginia’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone at Pioneer Ridge especially those in Home Area 1, who kindly and compassionately took care of our mother. We are forever grateful.

Visitation for family and friends will be held in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre on Monday, April 4th, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. with Prayers beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Tuesday, April 5th, 2022 presided by Rev. Fr. Konstantinos Tsiolas and Rev. Fr. Peter Avgeropoulos at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, P7B 6N2 or online at http www.gothunderbay.org