Bessie passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at home on Monday, August 17, 2020, at the age of 67. Born on March 18, 1953, to George and Kanella Koumoudouros in a small villiage outside of Sparti called Pikoulianika, in Greece. She battled brain cancer for over two years, and fought until her last breath. Bessie surpassed all the doctors’ expectations, and like a true Spartan she fought hard until the end. She is loved and dearly missed by her beloved husband of 49 years, Peter, and her two daughters Sophia (George) and Nellie (Paul). Loving grandmother (yiayia) to her precious grandchildren, Olivia, Nicholas, Peter, and Olympia. She will be greatly missed by her sisters Eleni (Bill) and Kiki (Diamantis), her nephews George (Joyce) and Panos, and her nieces Patty (Mike) and Marigianna (Vasilis).
In 1969, Bessie immigrated to Toronto Canada on her own at just 16 years old. A couple of years later she married her husband Peter, and they started their life and family together. She worked as a seamstress and then became a successful restaurant owner with her husband for many years. They worked very hard to provide for their family.
Bessie loved to take care of her family. She made sure all of us ate healthy by cooking us home-cooked meals and always giving us a lesson in nutrition. She loved to do yoga, listen to music, and to go out with her friends to a dance or for a coffee. She always put her family first. She worried about her children and grandchildren and would make sacrifices to ensure we had everything we needed.
Bessie (Wife, Mom, Sister, Yiayia, Friend). You will always be remembered and always live in our hearts.
Due to public health restrictions, a small private Service (by invitation only) will be held at St. Panteleimon at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 21st. At the conclusion of the Service, interment will follow at Elgin Mills Cemetery in Richmond Hill. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada or Wellspring Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook.