With Eternal Love.
Louie, my mother would tell me. When my bound for glory time arrives, I do not want you, your sister or anyone to shed any tears. I have lived a wonderfully blessed life. I would ask that family and friends to come together and celebrate the memory of a life well lived.
Ageliki Vassilakos (nee Apostolakos) was one of 7 children born to the family of Petros and Maria Apostolakos on Dec. 13th 1926.
She grew up as a young girl of modest means in the small olive oil producing village of Petrina in Laconia Greece.
She was part of a generation that in its youth experienced poverty, sacrifice and the horrors of war.
She was part of a generation that sought something better out of a hard life and embarked like many others on a journey with her fiancé to a new and exciting life in a new world.
She was part of a generation that along with my father arrived on the shores of this great land and began their new journey like many others without the knowledge of language or the benefit of resources but with and inalienable desire to seek out a better life for themselves and their future families through hard dedicated work and sacrifice.
She was part of a generation that through the hardships of their youth knew what sacrifice meant and how it was essential to establish a new life for themselves and their families.
She was part of a generation that continued to sacrifice for their families and for their children and by doing so forged the virtues and values by which we can make better lives for ourselves and for others.
And when the time came they handed our generation the reins that guide our lives. And in so doing made us all proud to honour their legacy.
In short, she was part of ‘The Greatest Generation’ – a generation of love and devotion – a generation of hard work and sacrifice – a generation of charity and humility.
To all of this generation both present and absent and as products of this generation my sister and I proudly and humbly stand before you today to thank you for honouring our mother’s life and memory.
My mother and father settled in this quiet chicken farming community in 1960. They were one of the early Greek poultry farmers in this area. They settled down and raised a family and were very active in initiating and organizing the Greek Community of the area so aptly named Agios Haralambos. My mother was one of the first women to serve on the Agios Haralambos board, something that she always mentioned with pride.
She enjoyed the company of family and friends. She had an amiable personality and a wickedly biting sense of humour. In a word she was - - Fun!
As my sister and I grew older she along with our father provide the guidance we needed to become independent at a young age and embarked on our own life’s journey.
My mother handled life’s happiness’ and pain with dignity. That was never more apparent than with the passing of our father now 24 years ago. She continued with the love of her children and grand children to enjoy her remaining years and 3 years ago was blessed with the birth of her great grand daughter who honours her by proudly taking on her name. – AGELIKI and last year was blessed with a great grand son who was recently baptised – VASSILI.
My sister and I would again like to thank you for honouring our Mother’s memory today. We would also like to thank Kalliopi Rousakis for the care and love she provided for our mother these last 3 1/2 years. As well we would like to thank St. Peter’s hospital in Hamilton for the excellent care they provided to our mother when her health was failing.
Finally we would like to thank Father Dimitrios Tzanateas for honouring our mother with today’s service.
And so life’s circle is now complete for our mother. From a nice young girl in Petrina, to a lovely young woman in Athens to a giving and loving wife and mother in Toronto and Smithville - as you said mom ‘a life well lived’ with proud children, grand children and great grand children. Now it is time to take your rightful place next to your beloved Petros and that thought should not bring a tear to our eye but a warm comforting smile to our lips.
Stavroula and I would like to thank you Mother. You gave us so much love and provided everything to make our lives easier. In fact the only real difficult request you ever made of us- was to ask us not to shed a tear for you today.
God bless you Mother. May we be comforted by your memory and may you rest in eternal peace.
I Love You Mom
Louie (Lycurgus)
