Toula Panousieris

Toula always loved school, but her education was cut short by school closings during WWII. In 1955, she left Greece to join her sisters in Sydney, Australia. She often told the story of being 22 years old and taking the ship so far away from home, all by herself.

Shortly after her arrival in Sydney, her childhood sweetheart, Panagiotis (Pete) Panousieris, made the same journey, and they were married on March 10, 1955. In 1958, she gave birth to their son, Epaminondas (Eddie), and in 1961, their daughter, Vasiliki (Vicki) was born.

The family immigrated to the United States in 1968, settling in with Pete’s family, who had thriving restaurant businesses in San Jose, California. Early on, she was excited to learn to drive; a skill that gave her the opportunity to work and take her family to church. She went back to school in her fifties to learn to read and write English, and together with Pete, she proudly became an American citizen in 2001.

Although she had other jobs throughout her life, she was most proud of her roles as wife, mother, homemaker, and eventually Yiayia. Her door was always open for guests, and she would have homemade cookies or bread to share with them, if not an invitation to dinner. She taught her children Greek history and language, cultivating in them a love for their heritage. But most importantly, she shared her faith with them by taking them to church and praying with them daily.

She was a faithful member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church where she served in many ways over the years. Her kindness, generosity, and abundant faith in God made her a true example of Christ’s love to her children, grandchildren, and everyone she met.

Toula fell asleep in the Lord on April 22, 2023, peacefully and surrounded by her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Georgia and Athanasia; parents-in-law, Epaminondas and Vasiliki Panousieris; sister-in-law Helen Panos; brothers-in-law, Gus Panos and John Panos; nephews Gus Jr. and Pete Panos.

She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Panagiotis (Pete) Panousieris; son, Epaminondas (Edward) and his wife, Tracy; daughter, Vasiliki (Vicki) and her husband, Norm Ryan; grandchildren, Christina Demitra and her husband, Daniel Andresen, and Stephanie Jane Panousieris; great-grandchildren, Ksenia Maria, Juliana Despina, and Theodore Michael Andresen; sister, Ntina Korkidas; brother-in-law, George Panos and his wife Toula; as well as many nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Trisagion Service will be held Sunday, April 30 at 7pm.

Funeral Service will be held Monday, May 1 at 10am.

Services will take place at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1260 Davis Street San Jose, CA 95126.

Burial will take place at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave San Jose, CA 95125

May her memory be eternal.