Obituary of Ekaterina Cabylis

EKATERINA CABYLIS (nee Gardikiotis) It is with profound sadness that the family of Ekaterina Cabylis announces her peaceful passing on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 in Astros Greece, at the age of 97 years. She was born November 27 1913 in Astros Greece and immigrated to Canada with her husband and children in the winter of February 1966 making Regina, Saskatchewan their home. After several years of owning and operating their family restaurant businesses (The Town and Country Restaurant in Weyburn and the Sherwood House Restaurant in Regina) and following the sudden passing of her beloved husband Demetrios, Ekaterina retired and maintained her residence with her son Paul and daughter-in-law Soula and their children, for 29 years. Ekaterina was predeceased by her parents Anna and Apostoli; mother and father-in-law Athanasia and Dimitri; beloved husband Demetrios in 1975 and a son in infancy; brothers George, Thanasi and Yianni; sister-in-law Marigoula Gardikiotis and son-in-law Ioannis (Yiannako) Perdikaris. Left to cherish her legacy are her children, daughters, Athanasia Perdikaris (Yiannako), Anna Giannoutsos (Spiros) Stamatina Kyriakakis (Manuel); and sons Paul Cabylis (Soula), Constantino Cabylis (Angie), Stelios Cabylis (Marlene). Ekaterina was also blessed with 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, known to them as Yiayia and loving them all dearly. Also left to cherish her memory are brothers Robert Gardikiotis (Anne) and their families, Peter Gardikiotis (Fallio) and their families, Dimitri Gardikiotis (Sassa) and their families; her special sister-in-law Eleni Gardikiotis and her families; many nieces and nephews along with their families, both here in Canada and in Greece. Ekaterina was truly an unbelievable woman who inspired by giving strength and courage to all who knew and loved her. She was a woman of many strengths, fearless enthusiasm and determination shown in her profound devotion to her Greek Orthodox Faith. This was evident in her great achievement during WWII; with her strong faith and devotion she set out and built a church in honour of St. Demetrios (her husbands namesake) for the safe return of her husband and her brother who had been captured and held as prisoners of war, and her mission was answered when they returned home alive after 2 years of captivity. Nothing ever stopped Yiayia Katerina not even danger - even when she followed the soldiers and took back her mule when they stole it from her. Ekaterina was not only a strong matriarch of the family since the passing of her beloved husband Demetrios, but also a woman with a great sense of humour. She was high-spirited, spontaneous and outgoing with an immense love for animals, nature, taking pride in her garden and flowers, singing and dancing. She especially loved to dance traditional Greek dances and as always was the first one on the dance floor doing the Tsamiko dance, each time the opportunity arose. She enjoyed sports, not only watching soccer matches, WWF wrestling and of course good solid football action - cheering on the Riders, but she also enjoyed attending her grandsons soccer and football games when she could, loudly cheering them on, as this is how she acquired her good booming BINGO voice. Yes like most grandmas she loved playing Bingo. Yiayia Katerina was very talented; she crocheted beautiful lace tablecloths and blankets for each of her granddaughters and had a great knack for her Greek cuisine. With great enthusiasm Ekaterina always was the first to lend a hand, from making pastries for weddings or baptisms and happy occasions to lending a helping hand in times of sorrow and grief. She enjoyed people and socializing and it wasnt uncommon for her to once in awhile enjoy a nice cold bottle of Blue while doing so. One her greatest pleasures was returning to her homeland Astros Greece as often as possible throughout the years, spending time visiting her family and friends. Sadly it would be her final visit but also one of her final wishes... to be buried in her homeland. Yiayia Ekaterina will be laid to rest in the family plot in Theologos Astros, Kynourias Greece, on Sunday, September 5, 2010. To leave online condolences, or add your own memories and photos of Yiayia Katerina, please visit the Book of Memories at www.speersfuneralchapel.com KALO SOU TAXIDI MHTERA KAI YIAYIA?