Alexandra Lipitkas

Alexandra Lipitkas

1931-2021

Alexandra was born in Aetos Greece and was the 4th of the 6 children of Vasili and Sultana Pappas. Her early years were spent in a picturesque rural setting on a mountainside farmhouse overlooking the village of Aetos. Like all farm children, she was assigned chores when she was old enough to help but also had the pleasure of a pony that she would ride when those chores were completed. She went to the village public school and played with her siblings and many friends.

Four years of Axis occupation followed by a further four years of Civil War shattered the idyll and Alexandra lived those years in the midst of loss and privation. Following the end of conflicts, she trained as a seamstress and showed a real flare for work of high quality and her work was soon in demand in the village. It was around this time that a young man named Michael came calling. He was tall, handsome and had a mop of curly hair that Alexandra found irresistible. The fact that he was a good dancer sealed the deal and she agreed to take the surname of Lipitkas. Michael was proud to have the most beautiful woman in the tri-village area on his arm, and they were the couple during promenades and dances. They were married on a frosty day in November in 1955 and four years later their son Terry was born.

Pier 21 welcomed Alexandra, Mike and Terry in 1962 and they took the train to Toronto where, they soon bought a house in East York in 1965 and two years later Helen was born. Alexandra lived in that house the rest of her life. She made that house hers. She covered the front with flowers in the summer and in the backyard she grew the tastiest tomatoes and vegetables. Every square inch that could be planted, potted or hung was done so with flowers. Her dahlias are legendary. She was proud of Canada and proud to be a Canadian with Greek roots, blending both cultures with enthusiasm.

If there was cooking or baking to be done, she rolled up her sleeves with relish. Alexandra was a mater of traditional Greek cuisine. She known for many Greek dishes, but especially her pita, baked bread and baklava (which had an Indian design twist garnered from a Caravan food stall in the early 1980s-but that is another story). She loved food, especially sushi and Asian buffets and always tried new cuisines. She liked surprising all with dishes she learned from afternoon cooking shows.

She loved to shop and would take any opportunity to do so, especially downtown where she enjoyed The Bay and Eaton Centre (she loved the annual Christmas tree). Even in her 80’s, she and Helen would take trips to Buffalo to shop and she delighted in the bounty they would bring home from Macy’s. She loved having her hair done and always looked forward to her next manicure and pedicure. Alexandra had a sentimental streak and could not bear to part with any souvenir from any place or event or gift that she may have received, no matter how small. Luckily for all, she was a fastidious housekeeper with a knack of knowing where everything was when asked. A woman of deep faith, she lived her faith with love and forgiveness at her core. Alexandra attended church regularly and observed all the holidays on the Greek Orthodox calendar. She took great solace in religion, and found it eased her soul when the trials of time and life made things difficult. She also had an innate curiosity and quick acceptance of others, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone with more forbearance, illustrated by allowing Terry to practice in the basement with his high school garage band twice a week for the better part of a year.

Hale and determined in her later years, Alexandra unfortunately suffered a stroke in the winter of 2019 that affected both her cognition and motor skills yet she still enjoyed visitors, her garden and colouring books while her husband Michael took up the mantle of her primary caregiver. He

was ably assisted in this by his children, neighbours and friends along with invaluable support from the team of personal support workers, nurses, coordinators and doctors from Homecare and Palliative Care at the Toronto LIHN.

People can be grateful for many things in their lives, but love must be chief among them. Alexandra never skimped on love, and those whom she loved knew that they were loved without a doubt. Her husband, children, relatives and friends, the neighbours’ children that she kept an eye on after school while their parents were at work and anyone new who happened to visit, were always served, along with whatever treats she happened to be baking, dollops of love and affection.

Fittingly, Alexandra passed away on the day of the Feast of the Virgin Mary, a day very dear to her.

Alexandra’s family would like to express their gratitude to Drs. Elliot Cantor, Naushin Walji and Melvin Silverman, Nurse Lead Joan Palmer, Nurses Nellie and Sangeeta, Coordinator Romessa Gold, PSW’s Josie, Yolanda, Genet and Janet as well as our neighbours and friends.

In lieu of flowers donations in Alexandra’s name may be made to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Kidney Foundation of Canada