With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved Aunt Anna (Ioanna) Katsoulakos, who left us peacefully on Saturday, November 22, 2025.

Anna (Ioanna) Katsoulakos was born on July 24th, 1939, in Xerokabi, Sparta, Greece, to her loving parents, Aristea and Sotiri Katsoulakos. She was the youngest of six children and grew up in a warm, close-knit home alongside her siblings Panagiota, Gerasimo, Vaso, Anastasia, and Panagiotis.
Unlike many women of her generation, Anna proudly completed her high school education—something she often reflected on with gratitude. In 1959, at only 20 years old, she courageously left Greece and immigrated to Canada to join her sister Anastasia and begin a new life.
Upon arriving in Toronto, Anna worked beside her sister at a local dry cleaners before becoming a waitress, the profession she carried for most of her life. She spoke fondly of her years working at James Restaurant—remembering with joy the coworkers she cherished, the customers she served, and even the long, demanding shifts.
The brightest and most defining moment came on March 25th, 1963, when her daughter Georgina was born. No matter what challenges surrounded her, from that moment forward Anna’s world revolved entirely around her daughter. When Georgina was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, Anna devoted herself wholeheartedly to her care—ensuring her life was filled with love, dignity, and joy.
Anna and Georgina lived with Anna’s sister Anastasia and her husband Fotios, creating a beautiful household. Georgina grew up side by side with her cousins Sofia and Aristea—three little girls who were more like sisters than cousins. Together, Anna, Anastasia, and Fotios created a home overflowing with support, tradition, and unconditional love.
On December 22nd, 1981, Georgina passed away at just 18 years old—the greatest heartbreak of Anna’s life. Three days later, on Christmas Day, Anna discovered a final gift from her daughter: a pair of earrings she had lovingly chosen for her mother. Anna treasured them for the rest of her life, keeping Georgina close to her heart.
Despite her grief, Anna remained in the home of Anastasia and Fotios for the rest of her life—continuing to be an essential part of the family. She helped prepare meals every day, acted as Anastasia’s trusted sous chef during holidays, and became known for her unforgettable karithopita, a dessert everyone eagerly anticipated.
When her nieces Sofia and Aristea married in 1985 and 1986, Anna—though still mourning—chose to wear celebratory outfits as an expression of joy and love for the young women she had helped raise. She also welcomed their husbands, George and Mike, into her heart and life, and both men always cared for Anna with kindness and respect. And when Sofia and Aristea began having children of their own, Anna embraced those babies as if they were her very own grandchildren. Angelica, Patricia, Anastasia, and Fotini were cared for, guided, and adored by Anna throughout their lives.
In June 1993, Anna baptized Aristea’s youngest daughter, Anastasia. At the reception following the baptism, she danced—something she had not done since Georgina’s passing and would not do again. It was a moment the family never forgot.
To the grandchildren, Anna was not simply a great-aunt—she was a second grandmother, “Thea Anna,” the person who always said yes when Yiayia Tasia said no. Her home was a place of comfort, stories, Greek coffee, and unconditional acceptance. She remained deeply involved in their lives as they grew, married, and began families of their own.
In 2017, Anna faced another profound loss when her sister, closest companion, and lifelong protector, Anastasia, passed away. She remained in the family home with her brother-in-law Fotios, and as his health declined, Anna lovingly took on the responsibility of caring for him in his final years—grateful to give back to the man who had welcomed her into his home and supported her through life’s most difficult moments. When Fotios passed on February 14th, 2022, Anna found herself without the two people she had spent most of her life beside. Unable to return to an empty home, she made the courageous decision to move into a retirement residence. Though the transition was difficult, Anna slowly began to embrace her new surroundings—making friends, participating in activities, and sharing cheerful updates with her nieces. One of her most memorable stories was trying a Bellini for the first time and proudly declaring how much she loved it. Seeing her rediscover joy after so much sorrow brought immense comfort and happiness to her family, who cherished witnessing this new and gentle chapter of her life.
Anna lived long enough to become a proud great-grandmother to Evgenia, Penelope, Theodoros, John, Lorenzo, Athena, and little Aristea. Each visit brought hugs, cookies, chocolates, and the unmistakable warmth that only she could give. Her great-grandchildren adored her.
Anna was the last surviving daughter of Aristea and Sotiri, and the final of her sisters to pass. She now joins those who went before her—including her beloved Georgina—while her brother Panagiotis remains to honor her memory.
Anna will be remembered for her gentleness, resilience, generosity, and extraordinary capacity to love without limits. She shaped not just one household, but an entire family—three generations forever touched by her presence, guidance, and sacrifice.
Her absence leaves a profound emptiness, but her legacy will continue in every life she helped raise, nurture, and love.
May her memory be eternal.