Kula Poulos Pippas

Salt Lake City, UT—Our sweet mother and yiayia Kula Poulos Pippas passed away peacefully on May 28th, 2021 at the age of 93.

She was born in Salt Lake City to two Greek immigrants, John Stephen and Chrisoula Changus Kyriakopoulos(Poulos). She was raised during the Great Depression, a period of time in her life that set for her a pattern of thrift, industry, and sentimentality. Her father had come to the USA as a young immigrant, and worked as an Army cook, traveling with his battalion abroad during World War I. She recalled the sacrifices of World War II made by all Americans, including her family where 3 brothers served, and the great joy after the war when they came home. Her children remember her annual tradition of the summer harvest when she would bottle peaches and stewed tomatoes. She also had a knack for other skills such as quilting, sewing, and making home repairs, all of which she had learned from her mother.

In her youth, she attended South High School and later became a secretary for the Equitable Life company, before traveling to Greece in her late 20's. This is where she would have a chance encounter with Bill Pippas, who would ultimately become the love of her life and whom she would marry in 1959 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Salt Lake City. They built a wonderful life together, and she cherished and loved Bill throughout their 61 years of marriage. She worked for a few years after marrying, but then devoted her life to raising her three sons and daughter. After her children were raised, she worked as a school assistant at Roosevelt Elementary, the school attended by her children. She was also an active, dedicated member of the Greek Orthodox community of Salt Lake City, serving as a Sunday school teacher, on several philanthropic societies, and singing in the church choir for over 20 years. For the last 40 years, Kula and other Pippas family members worked diligently at the annual Greek festival, a commitment she continued until the last 4 years of her life.

In her later years, her good health permitted her to be close to her Salt Lake City grandchildren, who frequented her home, where they were always greeted and embraced with open arms and generous expressions of love. Kula took singular joy and pleasure in the company of her grandchildren, proudly displaying their most recent photographs and aware of their achievements. She also recently welcomed the family's first great-grandson, Mason.

This particular area of her life was where Kula shined the most and in which she will be remembered most fondly. Above all roles she had taken in her life and in her community, being a mother and a yiayia were the most important to her. The devotion and care she has given to her kids and grandkids is something that has not only been sewn into the very patchwork of this family, but has also provided a framework and example of true dedication, compassion, and intensely selfless love that will live on for generations to come. This is her legacy. May she find rest and peace in God's arms, just as her family has found in her own. May her memory be eternal.

Kula is survived by her son Andy(Janette) Pippas, and their children Gabriel, Ellie and Grace, of Columbus, Georgia: Bill Pippas and his children, Christina and William, of Salt Lake City: John (Kristi) Pippas of Orange County, California and their children Alec and Helena: Patricia (Frank) Barton, and their children Matthew and Alexis, of Salt Lake City. She is also survived by her brother George (Nedra) Poulos, and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Andrew Pippas, her parents, her brothers Pete and Steve Poulos, and her sisters Bessie Colovos and Toula Souvall.

The family also expresses great gratitude for the expert care she received at Sunrise in Holladay, and the loving care of her niece ToniMae Colovos Dwyer, and the wonderful caregivers who took care of her in her home. Thank you.

Family and friends may attend a viewing on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 10:00am at Prophet Elias Greek Church (5335 South, Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117), followed by a funeral service at 11:00am. A livestream option will also be available for the funeral service. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery will be held following the church service. The family respectfully asks that all COVID protocols be observed.

In lieu of flowers or to remember Kula's friendship and kindhearted nature, donations can be made in her memory to Holy Trinity/Prophet Elias Philoptochos, the Greek Orthodox church, or a charity of your choice.