A very personal post💔& a tribute to my beautiful mom who passed away yesterday at the amazing age of 94. Vasiliki Lovatsis 09.30.32 to 10.16.26❤️ Born in Lefki, Kastoria 🇬🇷 Greece The last 2 years of her life has been difficult as she suffered from dementia. Watching my mom, who by far has always been the strongest person I know slowly slip away from us has been the hardest part of this journey💔 Why do I say she is the strongest person? At the age of 10 years old she became head of the household. Her father had been killed during the war & my grandmother at the age of 27 (yes she was that young) became a widower with 5 children to raise. While my yiayia worked in the fields to put food on the table, my mom was in charge of the house & her 4 younger siblings ranging from 2-7. She was forced to quit school & could barely write her name. Strong & resilient is all she how to be…she along with my yiayia had to bury 2 of her younger siblings themselves when they died of children related illnesses💔💔I could never imagine💔 She married my dad in Greece & then immigrated to Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦with my 10 month old brother a full year after my dad came making the journey alone with an infant. Her & my dad worked alternating shifts as they rented a room from a relative They waited a number of years to have me so they could work & save money to buy a house. To say her & my dad worked their butts off to give me & my brother a better life is an understatement. They put us both through University to ensure we were educated❤️ their sacrifice was immense! We rarely went out for dinners, if dad brought home a bucket of KFC, it was a treat! We never travelled except to visit our grandparents in Greece, but not often. When they both took their 2 weeks off in the summer it was to clean the windows, the chandelier and the dining room hutch🤷‍♀️I would ask when I was young why we couldn’t go away & dad would say but we are, really where? Veranda Beach😂🤷‍♀️ My mother knew nothing but hard work that we had to step in & put our foot down to force her to retire at 72🤷‍♀️from her factory job that she had with the same company for over 40 years! yes she was afraid to stop, she had known nothing but work💔 My dad left us 12 years ago & mom was never truly the same, they were truly soulmates…partners in every way ❤️❤️ We were so fortunate that she was able to be present to see her two granddaughters as brides, together with a grandson. She experienced the joy of being a great-grandparent to my grandbabies 💙💖 The real privilege & honour was ours❤️to my big brother John & I. Not only for the gift of our parents but that in the end we were both able to be there with each of us holding her hand as she left us to go be with dad🙏 P.S my mom & I went through some conflict when I was a teen😉why? well blame it on Bo & Hope #bope of course😉😂because of the amount of school I skipped & watch parties I held without permission. Thank god Victor Kiriakis joined in 85’ as my dad covered my butt often😉A Greek playing a Greek😉 he was obsessed & #Days became our thing❤️ We have been truly blessed❤️treasure your loved ones everyone, there is nothing more sacred & valuable than them & our memories. Time is precious❤️ It’s time to rest mom, you & dad forever together❤️🙏❤️