Obituary of Evaggelia "Leah" Sirounis

December 12, 1935 – December 12, 2014 It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Evaggelia (Leah) Sirounis, beloved mother, wife, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Leah was recently predeceased by her loving husband Andrea Sirounis whom she missed dearly. She is also predeceased by her parents Adoni and Melpomeni Kyriazi. Leah is survived by her children Angie (Brad) LaForge, Alice (Jeff) Rathgeber and Tony Sirounis. “Yiayia” will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Jessica (Brody) Smith, Stefan LaForge, Andrianna and Zoe Rathgeber. Also survived by sisters Basilia (Yianni) Dioili and Demetra Georgakakis in Greece; brothers and sisters-in-law Perry (Maria) Sirounis, John (Anne) Sirounis, Voula Giannoulis, George Nikolaou, and numerous nieces and nephews. Born in Oria, Greece, Evaggelia left home at the tender age of 11 to work for the town doctor and his family. Her hard work ethic, polite and obedient nature endeared her to the family and she became known as “H Vaggelio tou yiatrou”. Leah had a sense of adventure and at age 24 she came to Canada to marry a man whom she had met through letters and photos; a good man whom she loved with all her heart for over 50 years and now reunites with in their heavenly home. Her hobbies included reading, crocheting, needlepoint, gardening, volunteering but most of her energy was devoted to being a stay at home mom and supporting her husband in their businesses. Leah was determined, strong, independent, resourceful, highly creative and a lifelong learner. She initially taught herself to read English and was one of the first women of her era to learn how to drive. During this past year she learned how to email and Skype. Leah was actively involved in the Greek community. She was a Mosaic volunteer and dance organizer, a member of the Ladies of Philoptochos (where she served as president, vice president and treasurer), a member of the Daughters of Penelope and a volunteer at the Pasqua Hospital. In their retirement years, Andrew and Leah often visited their children and grandchildren in Calgary, travelled to Greece and had also enjoyed a wonderful family trip to Hawaii. During her final year Leah displayed her caring nature and natural ability to teach others when she patiently taught her caregivers how to cook, bake and crochet. Entrepreneurial to the end, she even sold baby booties that she knit while bedridden. Leah was supportive in many ways, particularly when it came to education and extra curricular activities for her children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all. The family would like to thank everyone for their unwavering support. Special thanks to Birpal (her dear “adopted daughter”), Angela, Rob and Heather from Nurse Next Door, Dr. Dolata from the Allan Blair Cancer Centre for his optimism, encouragement and kindness and the compassionate staff of the Palliative Care unit at the Pasqua Hospital and Allan Blair Cancer Centre. Prayers will be held at Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox Church, 3000 Argyle Road, Regina, SK on Thursday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at the same location on Friday, December 19 at 1:00 p.m. followed by the interment service at Regina Memorial Gardens and a reception at Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, those so wishing can make donations to Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3000 Argyle Road, Regina Sask. S4S 2B2.