Niki Christidis (née Kotsopoulos)
September 16, 1932 – October 26, 2025

Niki passed away peacefully after a short fight with pancreatic cancer at the age of 93. She was shockingly independent and felt very little pain until the last few days of her life.

Niki was born in the small northern Greek village of Vevi, Florina to Theodoros and Evdoxia Kotsopoulos. She had wonderful memories growing up with her brothers and cousins in the fresh air of the Greek countryside, tending to the family farm fields. However, along with all that beautiful nature she and her family endured unspeakable traumas of WWII and the Greek Civil War. It was during the latter war, that she lost her father when she was only 15 years old. In 1952, Niki left Vevi and joined her brother Vasili in Toronto where their paternal aunt helped them set up their new life in Canada. Her mother Evdoxia and brother Alexander soon followed.

In the summer of 1961 Niki took a trip back to Greece where she met her future husband, Loucas. They were married that summer and were reunited a few months later in January. They lived with the rest of the Kotsopoulos family on Woodycrest Avenue. Niki and Loucas added to the love and chaos of a typical extended immigrant home by bringing Zoe and Christos into the world.

Although Niki always worked outside the home, her passion was her family. Her homes were always tastefully decorated and immaculate. Her dinner parties were full of many incredible dishes -- both from the region of Florina, as well as from the cuisine of Constantinople. Niki’s pièce de résistance were her pitas, especially her unmatched spanakopita.

Niki was an amazing seamstress. She wore her very own handmade dresses. Those stylish dresses of the 50s, 60s and 70s rivalled those of Hollywood’s, thanks to the notions department at Eaton’s and Vogue patterns. Her daughter Zoe was also lucky to be adorned with stylish handmade garments from a young child to her early twenties.

Niki was admired for the massive organic garden that she and Loucas maintained on their property at Warden Lane. Well before their house was built they tended to their garden, freezing and preserving their crops for the winters that lay ahead. Probably one of the reasons that they both lived such long healthy lives.

Niki had no choice but to become a sportswoman after she married Loucas. The couple spent so many weekends camping, cottaging and fishing in the vast lakes of Ontario. A common practice was dragging their young children from their warm beds, still in pyjamas, at the crack of dawn to their makeshift beds in the back of their station wagon. All so they could get to the lake for the morning fish bites.

Niki spent the end of her life at Hill House Hospice where she was cared for by a host of angels. At first, she had a hard time letting others take care of her. She soon realized this place, these angels, were a little heaven on earth. For the first time in her life, she allowed others to take care of her … with minor resistance.

Niki leaves behind her daughter Zoe, son-in-law Endel, grandsons Loucas and Aleksander, daughter-in-law Georgia and granddaughter Alexia.

We are very saddened by her departure. However, we know she has been reunited in heaven making spanakopita for husband Loucas, son Christos, granddaughter Andrea, along with other beloved family members and friends.

Niki has chosen to have a simple funeral with the visitation at Sts. Panetleimon Church prior to the funeral. According to church practice, only four flower arrangements will be allowed inside. The four flower arrangements will be from the immediate family.

Donations to Hill House Hospice would be appreciated. This will help them build their new facilities to allow more families to experience what true compassion really means. There are several ways to make the donation, if you wish. There will be donation forms available at the funeral, or you can go to https://hillhousehospice.com/donations.

May her memory be eternal.