Obituary of Kosta "Gus" Aggelopoulos

January 3, 1943 – June 18, 2025

It is with profound sadness and deep love that we announce the passing of Gus “Kosta” Aggelopoulos.

Kosta passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025, surrounded by the family he cherished. Born in the village of Makrisi near Megalopolis, Greece, Kosta lived a life that embodied wisdom, humility, strength, faith, and unwavering love.

To know Kosta was to be struck by his presence — never loud or showy, but steady, sincere, and deeply good. He was the kind of man who left a quiet impression that grew stronger the more you got to know him. People often found themselves saying, “Wow — there’s someone who truly has it all figured out.” He was a rare balance of integrity, kindness, humility, faith, and emotional wisdom — someone who lived by his values, not through grand gestures, but through consistent, quiet action.

In the early 1960s, Kosta left his homeland with courage and hope, arriving in Canada to begin a new chapter. Like so many of his generation, he carried with him little more than determination, resilience, and a deep belief in the dignity of hard work and the good that would bring. In his new country, he built a beautiful life — not just with his hands, but with his heart.

It was in Canada that he met the love of his life, Lela, with whom he shared 58 remarkable years of marriage. Together, they created a home, and a life rooted in love, honesty, faith and shared purpose. From the early 1970s until their retirement, Kosta and Lela ran Helen’s Variety and Alterations at Colborne and Pall Mall — a neighborhood cornerstone that became much more than your corner grocery & variety store. It was a place of connection, where people felt welcomed, heard, and cared for. Kosta’s warm smile and gentle presence made a lasting impression on everyone who walked through the door.

He had a rare gift for finding just the right balance in life— between work and family, tradition and progress, thought and feeling. He never rushed to speak, but when he did, his words carried weight. People trusted his counsel because it was always rooted in fairness, compassion, and perspective. His calmness could steady even the most turbulent of our days — he was a grounding presence in the lives of so many.

A man of deep faith, Kosta was a devoted and humble member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, where amongst his many volunteer contributions over the years he served as a chanter for over ten years. His steady voice reflected in his spiritual devotion and his quiet dedication to serving his church community. His faith wasn’t just something he believed — it was something he lived, every single day.

Even after the loss of his beloved Lela, Kosta remained the heart of his family. He continued to lead by example — with love, presence, and a deep appreciation for life’s simplest moments. He treasured time with his family, and held a deep, abiding love for his sisters, with whom he remained very close. Sunday dinners, holidays, and everyday visits (where he’d always show up with treasures form his beloved garden) were marked by his warmth, quiet humor, and unmistakable joy in being in the presence of those he loved.

When Kosta learned his prognosis was terminal, he faced the illness the same way he faced everything in life — with grace, strength, and an open heart. He never complained. Instead, he repeatedly expressed gratitude for the life he had lived. In his final days, he often said how blessed and thankful he felt — for his family, for his journey, and for a life filled with love, purpose, faith and peace. He had the best attitude about life, but also about death; accepting, faithful, showing us all right to the end what true strength and courage is.

We are immensely proud of Kosta’s legacy that lives on not just in the memories we hold, but in the way he made us feel — respected, loved, and better for having known him. He showed us that strength can be gentle, that faith can be humble, and that true character is shown not in grand moments, but in the everyday kindness we offer others. He is now reunited with his beloved Lela, whose memory remained alive in his heart every day.

Loving father of John (Elena) and James. Cherished grandfather (papou) of Kalli, Lily and Andre. Brother of the late Georgia and Peter Psellas, Pena (late Chris) Catsiroumpas, Demetra (Louie) Doris, late Vasiliki and Takis Avthi and Eleni (Thanassi) Georgopoulos of Greece. Brother-in-law of the late Jeanette and George Saldaris, Maria (late Jim) Milles, late Theodore (Sheila) Theodorakakis. Predeceased by his parents John and Maria Aggelopoulos and mother-in-law and father-in-law Dimitri and Kalliope Theodorakakis. Forever in the hearts of many nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Visitation will be held at Logan Funeral Home, 371 Dundas Street, London, Ontario (between Waterloo & Colborne St.), on Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6-9 p.m.

Prayers will be conducted in the Logan Chapel Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.

Funeral service will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 131 Southdale Rd. W., London, Ontario on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. (Please park by the Hellenic Centre if you plan to attend).

Logan Funeral Home will be providing a livestream service at the time of the ceremony.

CLICK HERE to register for the livestream link.

Please follow necessary instructions.

Interment in Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario.

Donations in Kosta’s memory may be made in dedication to the iconography fund at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or St. Joseph’s Hospice both of London, Ontario.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.loganfh.ca

A tree will be planted, by the Logan Funeral Home, as a living memorial to Kosta “Gus” Aggelopoulos.