Zois, Irene
Our beloved Mother, Irene Zois (Skoundridakis), peacefully passed away on August 15, 2024, surrounded by her sons and family. She leaves behind an amazing legacy, her four sons, Gus (Tina), Tony (Rula), Jack and Mike (Rebekkah), grandmother to Andy (Amanda), Paul (Abby) and Sophia; Alexander (Andreia) and Katie; Phoenix; Jordan and Ryan; great-grandmother to Eliana and Diana.

Our mother was born in Kournas, Crete, Greece; moved to Parigoria, Crete at a very young age with her family where her father (Anthony Skoundridakis) started farming. She was a good student and wrote many stories of fiction in her elementary years at school. Some of those stories where heralded by her teachers as great works of imagination. As was common for farming families in those days our mother left school early to help with the family farm. At 17 she immigrated to Canada where she met my late father, Leonidas Zois. It was common in those days to start a family right away and so our mother brought 4 sons into this world all within 7 years. Gus Zois is the eldest son, followed by Tony, Jack and the youngest, Mike. Our mother's legacy is strong and proud, being the mother of 4 sons, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Living in Toronto, Canada was a struggle for her, but she was a strong woman who raised her 4 children as a single parent while they were still very young. She sacrificed a lot in her life to give her children a better one. She gave us many great memories. She was a self reliant and resourceful mother, recalling times that our bikes needed repairs and not having the financial means to have them fixed by a professional, our mother took electrical wire and connected the loose bike parts together which gave her children many more hours of fun riding during the summer months.

Our mother had great strength and raised her children with love but with a firm hand. She had to keep four rambunctious and high energized boys in line, and she did it the best way she could. We love her for that, keeping us in line and altogether. If not for her strength and love for us, God knows what would have become of us. We owe our mother all that we are and pray that she continues to watch over us.

Our mother protected us from the world's troubles. She did this without hesitation. When a bully at school was tormenting one of her sons, she protected him by walking him to and from school every day until the bully lost interest. When school trips to places like Quebec and Montreal was offered, she made sure that her sons wouldn’t miss out. The memories made on those school trips will stay with us forever.

As we grew older and more independent, we became less reliant on our mother. But aided with her life lessons taught to us and her morals instilled in us, stemming from her own family upbringing and close religious connection to the Greek Orthodox faith, we have all grown into successful and independent men and fathers. We have carried on the strengths and morals taught to us from our mother to our own children and have watched them grow into successful individuals. Our mother's legacy will live on in all of us, her children, grandchildren and great grand children.

Blessed be the name mother, blessed be our mother Irene, a name that means peace in Greek, peace is what she has now, and we wish her all our undying love.

Rest in peace Mom