It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of Photini “Fyllis” Yusufidis, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, who peacefully succumbed to illness at Mackenzie Health Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit on October 26, 2025, at the age of 79. She drifted away peacefully, and surrounded by love.
Born in Korinthos, Greece, and raised along the shores of Kiato and the Korinthian Sea, Photini’s early years were filled with sunshine, food, and laughter. A spirited storyteller and devoted foodie, she was known for her delicious cooking and for the home she inherited and loved deeply—a home that became the heart of her family’s memories.
As a young woman, she and her brother Dino and sister Grigoria were inseparable, remembered fondly for their lively gatherings and carefree nights shared over parties and music. Moving to Athens, she first worked as a seamstress before discovering her lifelong passion: hair, aesthetics, and fashion.
In the early 1970s, Photini emigrated to Canada, where she built a life filled with creativity and determination. Alongside her husband Prodromos (“Mike”) Yusufidis, whom she married in 1970, she established Studio Comie, an avant-garde hair salon admired for its modern design and forward style. She later opened Studio M, where she cultivated lasting friendships and clientele who adored her warmth and impeccable taste.
Her flair for fashion and beauty extended beyond the salon—through fashion shows, boutiques, and new ventures such as Jontel and Regimes in Unionville. Her legion of clients became lifelong friends, drawn not only to her artistry but also to her kindness and generosity.
Photini built a beautiful home life, first in Scar borough, and later in Unionville and Richmond Hill, always surrounded by family, laughter, and the scent of home-cooked meals. She was a homemaker in the truest sense, designing and creating elegant spaces wherever she lived.
In recent years, she dedicated her heart to her beloved home in Greece, where she spent long stretches restoring, decorating, and reliving cherished memories by the sea. She loved to travel, entertain, and shop, forever stylish, forever curious about the world.
Photini is survived by her loving son Mickael Yusufidis, her brother Dino Alexiou, her sister Grigoria Papamikrouli, and many dear friends and extended family in both Canada and Greece. She was predeceased by her husband Prodromos.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Elgin Mills Cemetery & Visitation Centre, 1591 Elgin Mills Rd. East, Richmond Hill. The Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Panteleimon Greek Orthodox Church, 11359 Warden Avenue, Markham. Interment to follow at Elgin Mills Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hill House Hospice in Richmond Hill (www.hillhousehospice.com).
Photini will be remembered for her creativity, elegance, and unwavering love for her family, her friends, and for the beauty she brought into the world.
Funeral Details
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Visitation
Elgin Mills Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Centres
1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4S 1M9
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Tuesday, 4 Nov 2025 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Funeral
Sts. Panteleimon, Anna & Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church of Markham
11323 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON, CANADA, L6C 1M9
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Wednesday, 5 Nov 2025 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Interment
Elgin Mills Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Centres
1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4S 1M9
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