Nickolas Sainas

After a long battle with declining health, Nickolas Sainas, age 91, passed peacefully in his sleep while in Vancouver General Hospital during the early morning of May 18th, 2024. During his final weeks, he was surrounded daily by his loving family members, and in his final hours, had Panayota by his side who was his childhood friend and later became his loving wife of 63 years. 

Along with Panayota, Nickolas is also survived by his sons, Steve and Alexandros; Steve’s wife Danielle, and their children, Elsa and Eric; Alexandros’s partner, Iryna and her son, Sasha; as well as Nickolas’s nephews and nieces, Alexis, Tom and Alekka, Susan and Helen. 

Nickolas joins in Heaven his predeceased relatives: father and mother, Alexis and Stavroula; brother Joseph; sisters Sotiria, Georgia, and Panayota, as well as her son, Steve. 

Nickolas was an incredibly strong man who worked tirelessly to lovingly provide for our family. He was born on December 18th, 1932 in the village of Agrilovouno, Messinias, Greece. Nickolas had a challenging early childhood growing up in Nazi occupied Greece. As a young adult, he served in the Greek military and then immigrated to Canada in 1957 to begin a better life for himself and his soon to be bride, Panayota, who joined him in 1961. Soon after, Nickolas and Panayota had two sons, Steve and Alexandros, for whom they lovingly provided an incredible life of opportunity. Nickolas and Panayota also enjoyed spending time with their two grandchildren, Elsa and Eric, whom they loved with all their heart. While living in Vancouver, Nickolas was employed in Janitorial Services at Vancouver General Hospital until his retirement in 1992. 

In his retired life, Nickolas enjoyed fishing, gardening, billiards, and socializing with his friends in the Kitsilano Greek community. He was well loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed. Rest well, Nickolas...We love you!

A funeral service for Nickolas will be held Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. George's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4500 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC V6J 4A2. A reception will be held in the adjacent hall immediately after the service. Following the funeral service and reception will be a committal service from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Ave, Burnaby, BC V5G 3M1. Family and friends of our family are welcome to attend.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountPleasantFuneral.com for the Sainas family.