Obituary of Irini Spanos (nee Karlis)

Our beloved mother, Irini Spanos (nee Karlis), passed away peacefully on May 1, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Tripoli, Greece on December 30, 1930 daughter to Christos and Panayota and sister to Konstantina and Paraskevas, predeceased. Irini arrived in Halifax by boat in 1955 and made her way to Montreal where she used her skills as a seamstress in a millinery making hats and various garment shops. Soon after, in 1962, she made her home in Toronto with her husband Nikolaos Spanos and started a family. She is survived by her three daughters Athena Ovsenek (Peter), Evangelia Wallace (Randee) and Panayota Castrounis (John). Irini was the quintessential "people person," someone who loved socializing, family gatherings, dancing and going to church. She was someone who could enter a room full of strangers and by the end of the evening call them all friends. Irini loved doting over her beloved grandchildren who all adored her and called her yiayia: Joseph Srouji (Farah), Irene Giannakopoulos (Spyros), Nicholas Srouji, Johanna Ovsenek (Rock Tate), Kristofer Ovsenek (Kayla MacDougall), Alexander Castrounis, Maximus Castrounis and Leonidas Castrounis. She was blessed with two great grandchildren Eliana Srouji and Georgios Giannakopoulos. Irini’s passion for family, her unwavering belief in God, and her seemingly superhuman resilience are characteristics she will undoubtedly be most remembered for. When she lost her leg not too long ago due to diabetes, she insisted on not only continuing to live on her own, but learned to walk with a prosthetic, defying the odds that it would be impossible at her age. Irini lived an independent life with the care of family and assisted living practitioners until her final days. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at LHSC and Cheshire for their kind and compassionate care. Due to current restrictions a private service with immediate family will be held at the Logan Funeral Home, 371 Dundas St., London, Ontario, on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with +Fr. Konstantine Chatzis officiating. Private interment in Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario. Online condolences can be expressed at www.loganfh.ca For those wishing to view the funeral service held for Irini CLICK HERE to register (please follow the instructions). Register as soon as possible. Services: Service Date Thursday, May 6, 2021 Service Location *Private Funeral Service* Burial Date *PRIVATE FAMILY* Burial Location Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario