Cynthia Papaconstantinou (Sferkas), 88, died peacefully Friday July 25, 2025 at Belmont House in Toronto.
She is survived by her beloved children Chris and Sandra, four grandchildren Allysa, Evan, Alexi and Marlee, and her great granddaughter Olivia.
Cynthia was born in Florina, Greece; and immigrated with her family (father Boris (Manolis), mother Ioanna, sister Helen, brother Tom) to Canada in the early 1950s for a better life. They all settled in Toronto where she met John, her future husband and they were married July 17, 1955.
After working at many years at various restaurants, John and Cynthia opened the El Matador Steak House in North York which would eventually allow them to provide an amazing life for their family. After working seven days a week for many years, John and Cynthia retired in their forties and used their early retirement years to travel the world, see their children grow and become successful and start families of their own. John was an accomplished business man and smart real estate investor, and Cynthia was there as his partner and advisor as they grew their investments which allowed them to live comfortably and also provide for their children and grandchildren.
Cynthia and John were especially proud of their grandchildren. They helped raise them with while their parents worked, and dedicated the time to help develop them into the amazing people they are today. Baba Cynthia was a great entertainer and loved having a full house whether it was friends or family. She was an amazing cook and made sure no one went home hungry. She had a flair for fashion, always impeccably dressed and ready for a party. She also tried her hand at dancing, taking lessons as a Bellydancer which she demonstrated on more than one occasion.
Cynthia and John were very active at their church, All Saints Greek Orthodox Church on Bayview Avenue, where they had many friends whom they enjoyed socializing with. They loved to garden, bowl on Sundays with the village league, go for walks and spend weekday mornings drinking coffee and socializing at the plaza with fellow Macedonians and Greeks. Cynthia spent her later years at Belmont House where she received great care and as always, with John at her side holding her hand.
Cynthia was a loving wife, mother and Baba and she will be greatly missed but we rejoice that now she can once again be with her beloved John and her parents and brother and sister.
Almighty God and our Father, fount of time and eternity, who by Thy power has set a term of our life on earth, and through Thine only-begotten Son dost grant unto us, through resurrection, immortal life and a kingdom which cannot be moved, do Thou remember Thy servant Cynthia who hath fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, we beseech Thee, hear and have mercy.