Vacilici (Kiki) Theodore

Vasiliki (Kiki) Petropoulos was born in Tripoli, the capital city of the Peloponnese in Greece. 

Kiki’s mother Despina Fezoglu, whose family name Fezoglu we were told meant milliner or hat maker, immigrated from Turkey as part of the Greek diaspora exodus after World War I. Despina married a cobbler, Christopher Petropoulos, whose signature advantage – as family legend has it – was to keep their family fed by trading shoes for food during the German Occupation of WW II and subsequent civil unrest – global events that formed the backdrop to Kiki and her sister Zoe’s childhood and adolescence. Kiki knew Peter Theodore as the boy a few houses down the street who helped his father in his construction business. Before even turning 18, Peter left Tripoli and started his voyage (yes, in the 1950’s they called this a ‘voyage’) that included stops in India, Australia, the Caribbean, Michigan, Illinois and finally Toronto. Kiki eventually gave in to his repeated proposals via numerous letters to have her join him in Canada, where they were married in 1964, and the next chapter of their journey together began. Canada was inhospitable, cold and unwelcoming. On her first day at work in Toronto, somebody stole her boots – a sad if not ironic initiation to Toronto for a cobbler’s daughter! Undeterred, Kiki built a new life in Toronto. She learned English and built a career in early childhood education on the foundations established at Teachers College in Greece. Fostering a new community in Canada, she taught Greek to students eager to keep their culture alive through language. Kiki was an active member of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Church (Panagia) community, eventually joining and dedicating herself to what we nicknamed the Tsallas Family Choir led by Anne Fortier. After the loss of her sister Zoe and her mother Despina, Kiki convinced her younger brother, Nick, still living in Greece, to join her and Peter in Canada (she did not tell him the stolen boots story). Kiki took Nick under her wing and was both sister and mother to him in his teens, helping launch him from high school in Toronto, to the School of Engineering at the University of Waterloo, and eventually to Concordia University in Montreal. Kiki understood the value of over-programming her children Peggy and Jim. They got to try any and all activities, leading them all over Toronto – even helping haul leather goalie pads to hockey practices. Although she did not have family in Canada other than her brother Nick, she built a new family with her godchildren and their families, new friends at church and the many friends and their families that her daughter and son brought home and Peter’s family in Lansing and Chicago. The family took many car trips; exploring Ontario, visiting Uncle Pete (Great Uncle) in Michigan, and driving to Chicago to spend time with Uncle Jim, Aunt Christine, and their American cousins. A memorable trip to Greece with her children in tow allowed Kiki to share her family history with her son and daughter. 

She hosted many house parties, went to baptisms and weddings, and danced to the Greek hits of the sixties and seventies. The mountain of family photos from this time confirms Kiki’s Hollywood good looks and fashion sense and cements her legacy as our family’s very own Jackie Onassis! The hair, the sunglasses, the smile…the camera loved her! Family dinners at the Theodore house did nothing to debunk the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” stereotype. Kiki hosted her kids, their friends, their friends' families, and even their friends’ friends for afternoon lunches that extended into evening dinners. Animated discussions seldom ended in consensus but always in laughter. Guests unaccustomed to the cornucopia of delicious homemade Greek cuisine were sometimes allowed a short couch nap between courses only to arrive back at the table for another course or two. Her infectious laughter, big smile and welcoming persona, however, were not to be confused with a lack of fortitude or conviction. Kiki was a great mother and an even better Yiayia. Her grandchildren grew up spending sleepovers at Yiayia’s speaking Greek, going to church, learning to make tiropitas and being treated to Greek specialties, but also to good old-fashioned Canadian staples. Kiki made learning fun and would go out of her way to spark their curiosity, especially through music. Kiki went to their piano recitals, school plays, hockey and soccer games, where she was their biggest fan. Kiki was proud of her children and grandchildren and all their accomplishments. She and Peter worked to help them achieve their goals by modelling behaviours like hard work and perseverance, moral fortitude, and life-long curiosity about the world. The strength of her religious beliefs carried her throughout her life. 

Kiki leaves a legacy of care and compassion for others and an approach to life that is an inspiration to those of us who were lucky enough to be part of her world. Kiki will be missed by her dear husband Peter, brother Nick (Marina), children Peggy (Paul) and Jim (Athina), grandchildren Zoe, Victoria, and Peter, as well as family, friends, and neighbours near and far whose lives she has made an incredible impact on. All are invited to say a final goodbye to our amazing Kiki at the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Funeral Service Information:

Visitation: 
Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 
Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral 
136 Sorauren Avenue, Toronto, ON
 5:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Service: 
Friday, January 24, 2025
Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral 
136 Sorauren Avenue, Toronto, ON
11:00 a.m.
Streaming: www.panagia.ca/Panagia/Live_Feed.html 

In lieu of flowers, tribute donations may be provided to St. John the Compassionate Mission: https://www.stjohnsmission.org/ an organization that does incredible work in the community and was very dear to Kiki. 
The family would also like to extend their gratitude to all the nurses, doctors and staff at the Palliative Care Wing at Bridgepoint Health, who became acquainted with Kiki and cared for her over the last few months, exhibiting endless dedication to exemplary care and kindness.