Chris Ekonomides

EKONOMIDES, Chris,

Chris Ekonomides, beloved husband, father and grandfather, quietly passed away in the early minutes of May 1, 2023, at 94 years of age. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 66 years Angela Ekonomides, three sons Markos, Anthony, and Nick, and three grandchildren, Angela and Chris Ekonomides (Nick and Tina), and Chris Ekonomides (Mark and Stella).

Chris was born to Markos and Maria Ekonomides in Argos Orestiko, just outside Kastoria, Greece, on December 26, 1928. He was orphaned and grew to manhood without his father who was taken by World War II. As the youngest of nine siblings, Chris looked after his mother until the time of her passing. After serving his country in the Greek Military he went on to start a career in manufacturing and retail sales of men’s and women’s footwear. Chris specialized in crafting corrective orthopedic shoe insoles for those suffering various foot afflictions.

He first arrived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1954 and having met his future wife Angela Papantoniou in Salonica (Thessaloniki), Greece, married there and immediately emigrated from Greece to Toronto in 1957 to continue his career and start a family.

In Toronto, having begun in a modest shoe repair shop, Chris soon established the Sabra Shoe Company with his wife at his side and became a manufacturer of children’s shoes and sandals. In subsequent years, he and Angela fully shifted to retail footwear adding women’s purses, leather goods, and fur coats under the names Christie’s Shoes, Christie's Leather Goods and Christie's Furs.

Recognizing the demand for parents to economically put children into ever larger ice skates every winter, he and Angela established Christie’s Skate Exchange catering to recreational skaters, as well as growing figure skaters and hockey players. Christie’s Skate Exchange became the largest skate exchange in the city of Toronto boasting thousands of reconditioned skates in every size.

Chris was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion - Greek Veterans Branch 626, the Pan-Macedonian Association of Toronto, the Greek Community of Toronto, numerous Greek Organizations and Societies, and a proud recipient of the Lily Oddie Munro Province of Ontario Volunteer Service Award, for his tireless contributions of over 15 years to both Greek and non-Greek community and social causes.

After retiring in the 1990's, Chris and Angela became "snowbirds" enjoying their vacation home and condo in Clearwater, Florida. In Toronto, Chris and Angela played an outsized role in helping make the Greek Hellenic Home for the Aged a reality where he lived out his final years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Hellenic Home for the Aged at the following website link: http://www.hellenichome.org/online-donation/

Having lived a full life in good health, Chris finally succumbed to old age and joined the Lord while asleep, just as he had always wished.

He is much loved and will be missed, but lives on in the hearts of those who remember and love him. May his memory be eternal.

The Ekonomides Family

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Respects/Viewing

• St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

• 1385 Warden Ave, (just south of Ellesmere)

• Scarborough, Ontario

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Funeral Service

• St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

• Orthodox Funeral Service - Rev. Fr. Philip Philippou

• 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.(approx.)

Interment Service

• Pine Hills Cemetery

• 625 Birchmount Rd,

• Scarborough, Ontario

• Graveside Trisagion Service - Rev. Fr. Philip Philippou

• 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Mercy Meal (Makaria) after Funeral

• Floga Estiatorio (Restaurant)

• 1957 Kennedy Rd, (just north of Ellesmere)

• Scarborough, Ontario

• Starting between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

• Prayer - Rev. Fr. Philip Philippou