George Kefalas

George was born in the very small village of Kalos Agros near the small town of Drama, East

Macedonia and Thrace in Northeastern Greece on May 5, 1930 the 2nd oldest of 5 children.

His parents and their families were originally from southeast Greece and Asia Minor and farmed

the land in Kalos Agros before moving the family to Piraeus when George was only 5.

He always remembered fondly his early years of country life in the village.

They settled in Agia Sofia living across the street from his future bride Maria.

They all endured the German occupation of WW2 in what were terrible times of wartime perils

and the starvation of many. George and his father would intercept food and grain bound for

German consumption and distribute these to their neighbours in need. Maria always

maintained that he saved their family and many others.

The civil war followed and his older brother was tragically killed.

After the civil war George attended trade school at night while working during the day. He

graduated in 1949 with a diploma in engine fitting and then served in the navy. He then found

work on the large container ships which took him to many parts of the world.

In 1957 he found himself in Melbourne, Australia finally settling in the outskirts of Sydney and

the small suburb of Mt Pritchard.

Once he had found work, secured a block of land and built a modest dwelling, which was in

fact the future garage, he sent for Maria. They married August 22nd, 1958.

They made close friendships with Australian and Greek families in the neighbourhood whose

ties endured for a lifetime.

In due course George and Maria started their family of 3 children - Georgina, Cathy and

Andrew. By that time they had built a beautiful brick house where they lived happily, raising

their young family.

In 1970 George received word that his application for immigration to Canada had been

approved and he and Maria (according to memory) now had 2 weeks in which to make a

decision.

Consistent with George’s willingness to accept a new opportunity and Maria’s unwavering

support of his choices they packed up and moved the family to Vancouver, BC to yet again,

start a new chapter in their lives.

George and Maria rented small suites in Kitsilano to save money and George took out of town

contracts doing Millwright work in various mines like Granduc near Stewart BC, logging camps

in Campbell River and Gold River on Vancouver Island and the Oil Sands near Fort MacMurray

in Alberta. When it was feasible he would drive home on the weekend to spend time the

family.

This enabled them to put aside enough money to buy their first house on 3rd Avenue in 1972.

At some point George was able to find work in town at Rivtow installing tugboat engines.

By 1980 he semi-retired from Millwright work and bought a laundromat/drycleaning business

on 4th Avenue where regulars would stop in for a game of backgammon with George or a turn

on one of the first arcade games while getting a load of laundry done. His children, now young

adults were “employed” at the laundromat as well, filling in when needed as they pursued their

post secondary education.

He and Maria also invested in a revenue house on 1st Ave in 1979 - a risky move considering

the interest rates in the ‘80’s skyrocketed. It ultimately paid off because in 1986 George began

developing this property into a 4 plex with Georgina and Cathy and their husbands buying in.

In the meantime George sold the laundromat and now fully retired he and Maria enjoyed some

travels - Greece, Mexico, New York to visit Maria’s cousin, Banff and Jasper with friends from

Australia.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s the house on 3rd Avenue was often a scene of food fuelled gatherings of

friends and family where Maria and the girls prepared sometimes for days and George took on

the role of master bbq chef. Many a spirited discussion took place and much laughter was

heard around that dinner table.

After Maria became ill in 1988 and eventually moved to a care home in 1992 George was

essentially on his own. He then had to fend for himself in the kitchen but rose to the occasion

revealing himself to be a very good cook. He visited Maria frequently ensuring that between all

the family members she would have two visits a day. But her face lit up for no one else but

George.

In 2000 he and Andrew developed the house on 3rd Ave and again built a 4 plex. George then

took up residence in one of the new suites. The original wood panelled staircase was retained

and as one steps inside is reminded of those days gone by at the house. Greek columns were

added to the front porch at George’s insistence and were one of his favourite design features.

He filled his time with various pursuits. Painting - taking some classes and working on his own

in acrylic and water colour. Backgammon - played (quite competitively) at the Greek Seniors

Society where he enjoyed many spirited discussions and where he was occasionally banned

for bad behaviour. He enjoyed reading about Greek History extensively and recreated dishes

from cooking shows or his friend’s recipe for roast lamb at Sympatico’s. George walked every

day on one of our beaches. As he became older his walks took him around the immediate

neighbourhood with stops at the Safeway picnic table, several favourite benches and simply up

and down 3rd Avenue, where he became a well-known fixture.

While he still had the energy and the inclination, travel took George to China, Japan, Hawaii,

Europe, Mexico, Quebec, Banff, Jasper, Tofino, Hornby Island and several extended visits with

family in Greece.

He also enjoyed spending time thinking about new ways to do things resulting in yet another

great idea. He would routinely make excited phone calls to his adult children describing in

detail his latest invention.

In 2011 he was diagnosed with cancer and had several procedures and then a major surgery.

He was able to maintain an independent lifestyle with the support and daily visits from his

children until the time came when it made more sense for George to move to an assisted living

home.

After another severe illness in 2019 he required more care and moved to Yaletown House

where he spent the remainder of his life. The staff there were wonderfully patient, attentive and

good humoured and ultimately became extended family to George.

Remember by Christina Rosetti

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you planned:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

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