Iphigenia Andrea Ketcherside (nee Tsoulka) peacefully fell asleep in her home on November 23. 2022, just one month shy of her 83rd birthday. She was born in Athens, Greece on Christmas Eve and would often tell people she's "one day older than Jesus". She had a humorous spirit which was often lost in translation, but her intent was always there. She wanted to make people feel happy and loved and spread "kalosyni" which means kindness. A resident of Rancho Cordova for 58 years, there was never an establishment in town where she didn't befriend people and greet them with a smile and a hug. The places she frequented including her beloved Brookfields Restaurant all referred to her affectionately as 'mama' and she loved on everyone as if they were family. She was adored at the local nail salon where they all knew her signature color - "Million Dollar Red".
Iphigenia (Virginia), or Bayba as she was nicknamed from a young age, grew up in the coastal town of Kalamaki, Athens with her 3 brothers, Constantine, Jason & Alexander. Her early childhood was marked by the German Nazi occupation in Greece; the trauma from which she endured remained with her but she overcame many adversities as a result.
Bayba held her family in high regard. Her father, Andreas was a oilpainter who strove to provide her with the best of everything. Her mother Maria (nee Papadopoulo) was a nurse sent to Russia to provide aid and would later succumb to pneumonia. She also revered her grandfather, Konstantinos Tsoulkas, an educator and writer who authored a book in 1907 which is still in circulation & considered the most important in a series of pseudo-linguistic publications that appeared in Greece from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century.
Bayba enjoyed swimming in the ocean every day as a young girl and earned a spot on the Jr. olympic swim team in Athens.
At 17, she met her husband, John, an American stationed in Athens while serving in the USAF. She spoke often about how he would serenade her on his guitar in an effort to court her. They were married in Athens and soon after, had daughter, Maria and son, Andreas before getting orders to move to Bangor, ME., then Savannah, GA and ultimately, their final transfer to Mather, AFB, CA in 1964 where her husband was stationed and deployed to Viet Nam. She did an incredible job as a young foreigner living in America, raising 3 children while her husband was away at war. She took great pride in receiving her US citizenship and felt strong patriotism for both Greece & America.
She had a deep-rooted passion for her faith, her culture and for cooking. She was a talented culinarian, able to make anything without a recipe and make it more appetizing and visually appealing than any restaurant in town. Mostly because she cooked with love which permeated every dish.
Aside from being an incredible homemaker, she was employed for a short time at the Mather BX linen department where she was proud to earn several awards.
Iphigenia endured many tragedies in life, including the devastating loss of family. Above all else, she loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. She is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 58 years, John, her first born daughter, Maria and her son, Andreas. She persevered through life with strength, resilience and God's will.
She is survived by her daughter, Elli Ketcherside (Paul McGraw). She also leaves behind her brother, Prof. Alexander Tsoulkas, 2 grandchildren, Anthony (Kayci) and Phillip (Annette) Subia, 2 great-grandchildren, Hazel & Archer and 4 bonus grands, Marshall & Ryan McGraw and Makenzie & Hannah Massagli.
Funeral service will be held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Sacramento on Friday 12/16 at 9:30am. followed by a reception in the Hellenic Center before the 1:15pm service at the Sacramento Valley Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Dixon, CA where she will be laid to rest with her loving husband.
Iphigenia enjoyed reading and had an affinity for history, linguistics, philosophy and poetry. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to the Sacramento County Public Library. https://saclibrary.librarygiving.org/
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