Mary “Maritsa” Skanderis, 80, of Ajax, Ontario, passed away on June 10, 2020, at Lakeridge Health, Ajax, Ontario.

Maritsa was born in Kozani, Greece on February 28, 1940. She married her late husband, Kosta Skanderis on April 15, 1963 in Kozani, Greece and enjoyed 43 wonderful years of marriage.

Maritsa is predeceased by her parents, Kyriakos and Vasiliki Siomou of Kozani, Greece and her husband Kosta Skanderis.

Maritsa is survived by her son Charissios “Harry” (Irene) Skanderis and their children Kostas, Yiannis of Aurora, Ontario, daughter Efthimia “Effie” (Tom) Coughlan and their children Alexandra, Nicolette of Brooklin, Ontario, sisters Katie (Theo) Macricostas of Marlboro, MA, Anoulla (the late Taki) Eliathou of Kozani, Greece, Alexandra (the late Stelios) Ypsilanti of Kozani, Greece.
Maritsa will be missed by her nieces, nephews, Godchildren, Koumbari, family members in Greece and loving friends.

Maritsa and her husband emigrated to Canada in 1969, first establishing residence in Toronto, Ontario and ultimately settling in Chatham, Ontario. She worked as a seamstress for many years at Ursuline Sisters of Chatham. She helped friends in the community with her expert knowledge of sewing and her traditional Christmas stockings are visible on many mantles during the holidays. She was involved with her local church, St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Chatham. She, along with her husband Kosta and countless others in the Greek community, worked tirelessly to establish a Greek Orthodox church in Chatham. She was a member of the church choir and the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society.

The family of Maritsa wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Winbourne Park Long Term Care Home, their nurses, personal support workers and staff that allowed her to connect virtually in these unprecedented times, the doctor who comforted her in Greek during a tough time, while connecting her via mobile device with her son and daughter, allowing her to share her love one last time, the ICU nurse who held her hand as she exhaled her last breath and countless others.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, there will be no visitation as per Ontario provincial healthcare guidelines.

Funeral services for immediate family will be held at 10 am on Saturday June 13, 2020 at St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church, 1385 Warden Ave., Toronto, ON. Burial for immediate family will follow at Pine Hills Cemetery & Funeral Centre, 625 Birchmount Road, Toronto, ON.

Update: The family would like to invite those that are able, to a Facebook Live feed for the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes to have any donations forwarded to St. Nektarios Church Chatham-Kent, PO Box 34, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K1, tel: 519-354-7914