Stavroula "Roula" Papaioannou

Stavroula (Roula) Papaioannou passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, surrounded by love, with her family by her side.

She was born on August 14, 1941, in Karya, Olympou, Greece. She is survived by her husband Athanasios (Tom); her three children: Chris (Annie) and their children Stavroula, Sophia and Natasha; Costa (Susan) and their children, Athanasia, Thomas, Christina and Michael; and Vivian (George) and their children, Anastasios, Athan and Nicholas; and her two sisters, Christina and Antonia. Stavroula was predeceased by her parents, Costa and Maria Koukoudimou, and her sisters, Evanthia and Eleutheria.

Stavroula embraced life with an unyielding spirit, a sharp intellect and a passion for living and learning. Her progressive mindset enhanced her personal and spiritual growth, which she prioritized. She offered wisdom and understanding to all. Her gentle and caring demeanour led to her creating many strong relationships effortlessly.

She had a keen eye for fashion and a great sense of style. As a successful retail entrepreneur, she pursued her passion for fashion and opened two retail women’s clothing boutiques in Toronto. Roula was also a gifted gardener, nature-lover, avid traveller and creative cook.

In her retirement, she helped raise her grandchildren with love, imparting strong Greek Orthodox Christian values. She enjoyed spending her summers in Karya in her ancestral home surrounded by family and friends.

Stavroula lived an active and full life, meeting life’s challenges with positivity and resilience, making her an exemplary role model for our family.

Stavroula’s unwavering legacy of love will endure in our hearts as she will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved her. May her memory be eternal.

A  funeral service will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church 30 Thorncliffe Park Drive, Toronto. Interment to follow at Elgin Mills Cemetery 1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church through the Greek Community of Toronto in memory of Stavroula.

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