Ioanna Charalamboyannis

Our Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, passed away peacefully at the age of 81 years, on June 30, 2020

She is finally reunited with her loving daughter Angelique.

Beloved mother to Eleftherios ‘Terry’ (Arlene Tsenebis)

A larger-than-life grandmother (Yiayia) to Joann (Peter Lirantzis), Irene (Andre Alexander), James (Erin Tsenebis) and Terry.

Adoring great-grandmother to James, Andre, Johnathan, Angelique, Terry, Evan, Dimitri, and Kaya.

Born in Atalanti, and raised in Athens, Greece, she wasn’t the conventional Greek grandmother – she was extraordinary.

She came to Toronto in the early 70’s with her children, her courage, and her collection of designer handbags. She was bold, beautiful, and brave. She quickly adapted to a new and foreign country to better the lives of her two children. She worked as an accomplished tailor at Tip Top Tailors for years before working independently as a highly sought after seamstress. Her love for fashion and design is why you would never see her without her make up and hair perfectly done, and an outfit to match.

She was the kind of woman that instilled pride and worth in her family who she defended fiercely in all ways. She loved all those around her. She was progressive and open-minded before the term was ever coined - the kind of woman you’d come home to find reading sacred works from other religions, out of intellectual curiosity. She taught her family to love everyone equally and to never back down from standing up for what was true and right. She faced life’s challenges with aplomb and a fighting spirit. Her friends remember her as someone who would make them think for themselves, question cultural norms, and laugh whole heatedly.

The tragic loss of her daughter Angelique in 1994, changed her forever. Yet she somehow managed to remain strong enough to play a vital and important role in raising her grandchildren, Joann and Terry, while they mourned this deep loss.

We know she is finally reunited with her daughter and they are embracing each other once again.

The family would like to sincerely thank all the staff, medical and non-medical, at Nisbet Lodge. Yianna felt loved and cared for everyday. Even during her last moments, in the midst of this pandemic crisis, she was very well cared for. She thought she lived in a spa because of all the pampering she received and it warms our hearts to know that.

There will be a one hour visitation period on Monday, July 6th at 10am at St. Demetrios Church, 30 Thorncliffe Park Dr.

However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the funeral service and burial will be kept to immediate family only. But you can take part virtually via this link https://www.youtube.com/c/GreekCommunityofToronto/live

We ask that anyone attending the visitation practice safe social distancing and respect that some family members have some health concerns and wish to remain at a safe distance during this difficult time. There will be no physical greetings.

We will hold a proper memorial luncheon for our loving Yianna once this pandemic has subsided, where we can properly celebrate her life and embrace each other over our loss.

In lieu of flowers you can to donate to:

The Canadian Cancer Society,
https://www.cancer.ca/en/donate/?region=ab

or to The Greek Community of Toronto.
https://www.greekcommunity.org/Give.aspx

We will miss her beyond words and will reunite with her again beyond the earthly realm, where her soul is surely singing, dancing, and immersed in Love and Light

You may follow the Funeral Service Monday, July 6, 2020 at 11am at St. Demetrios Church, 30 Thorncliffe Park Drive

https://www.youtube.com/c/GreekCommunityofToronto/live

May her memory be eternal