John Papoulias

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and dear friend. John Papoulias was 97 when he passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at St. John Hospice in Vancouver.

John was born in Greece in the small village of Pangrati, Kalavryton, on June 2, 1926, to Athanasios Papoulias and Giannoula Karahalios. The family endured poverty and hardship during WWII. Many atrocities occurred in and around the surrounding towns of Kalavryta. While returning from school one day, John and his friend, were caught in the line of fire by German occupation forces and narrowly escaped as the bullets flew past them. John completed his high school education despite the difficulties his family faced. He then served in the Greek military for four years before immigrating to Canada for a better life.

After arriving at Halifax’s Pier 21, in 1955, he travelled by train to Edmonton, Alberta. There, he reunited with his sister Evangeline Anagnostopoulos, whom he had not seen since she left Greece as a young girl. Evangeline was most supportive of her only sibling and helped him to settle and adapt to living in a new country. While in Edmonton, John took on various jobs. In 1958, he found employment at the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company in Eldorado, Saskatchewan, where he would work for the next six years.

In 1964, he returned to Greece to visit his family, and while on this trip, he met his wife, Sophia Matsouka, in Rethi, Korinthias. Shortly after they married, they settled in Edmonton and started their family. After a visit to Vancouver in the spring of 1968, John decided to move his family there in favour of a milder climate. In Vancouver, John worked as a barber at Brentwood Barbers in Burnaby and at the Park Royal Barbershop in West Van. He loved socializing and meeting new people; even after he retired, he was happy to fill in for barbers who took vacation time. He continued to cut hair well into his late 80’s.

John had a love of nature and the outdoors. His favourite outdoor activities in his younger years included hunting and fishing. His greatest passion, however, was working in his garden, where he spent countless hours tending to his vegetables. He was skilled in the art of grafting fruit trees and was successful in growing trees with several varieties of fruit. Friends and acquaintances often asked him to plant fig trees in their gardens, which he did with great pride. His hard work in the garden produced an abundance of vegetables and it was his greatest joy to share his harvest with others.

John was an avid reader of history and occasionally wrote historical poetry which reflected events from his past. When he could no longer work in his garden, John spent much of his day reading and continued to do so until his final days.

Anyone who knew John would know that he was fiercely proud of his Greek heritage and instilled his love and appreciation for the Greek culture in his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed Greek dancing immensely and never missed an opportunity to attend a community event that included food, music, and catching up with friends.

John was a devoted and protective husband and father and will be remembered as a kind, honest, and hardworking man with a great sense of humour. He was friendly, quick to speak his mind, and always brought the spirit of laughter into a room.

John will be deeply missed by Sophia, his loving and devoted wife of 58 years. After his stroke in 2017, she gave her unwavering support for his comfort and care and was constantly by his side. John will also be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his two daughters, Joanna (Peter) and Helen, and his three much-adored grandchildren, Nastasia, Sophia, and Chrisovalanti. They were the light of his life; they meant more to him than words could describe. The twinkle in his blue eyes and his sweet smile, will never be forgotten.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the many healthcare workers, both in hospital and at home, for the wonderful care they offered John during these difficult last few months of his life. The family wishes to thank Dr. Serena Pires for her continued care and support provided over and above the call of duty.

A Funeral Service will be on Friday, October 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4500 Arbutus Street, Vancouver. Father Nikolaos Sideras officiating.

Interment to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Burnaby. Memorial donations can be made to the Red Cross.

Condolences and tributes may be sent to the family by visiting www.mountpleasantfuneral.com