<div itemprop="description">It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Aristea Stavropoulos (née Vasilopoulos), who drew her last breath on the night of Saturday, June 20, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The disease may have altered her memory, but it never extinguished the spark that was uniquely hers. <br> <br>Our manoula was born in Greece and immigrated to Montreal with her brothers in search of a better future. She later returned to Greece to marry and bring back with her the love of her life, whom she tragically lost to cancer far too soon, leaving her to raise two young daughters on her own. <br> <br>Faced with unimaginable loss, she chose determination over despair. At a time when few immigrant women stood entirely on their own, she forged a path forward through courage, calculated risks, and an unparalleled work ethic. As a talented seamstress, she poured endless hours into her craft to turn her dreams into reality, while still tending a large garden and ensuring there was always something delicious on the stove. Her home became a place of warmth, generosity, and welcome to all who crossed its threshold. <br> <br>Through sacrifice and perseverance, she provided her daughters with education, a beautiful home, and financial security. Remarkably, she retired at 55 and was able to divide her time between Canada and her beloved Greece, despite the many challenges life continued to place before her. Time and again, she proved that adversity would not define her. <br> <br>Beautiful in both appearance and spirit, intelligent, resilient, and endlessly optimistic, she was a true force of nature. She poured her heart into everything she did, especially caring for her twin grandchildren from birth and throughout their early years, until vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease gradually took that role from her. Yet even then, she remained our anchor. <br> <br>We take comfort in imagining her reunited with her parents, siblings, and our father. May her memory be eternal. She will live forever in our hearts. <br> <br>We are deeply grateful to the exceptional staff at Hôpital Sainte-Anne. Special thanks to Guertine for the love and compassion you brought to our mother's care and for helping her feel cherished in her second home. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Shupreet, Usha, Sia Magoulas, and all those who treated her with kindness and tenderness despite the illness that so often prevented her from recognizing the care she was receiving. Through every translation into her native Greek, she expressed her sincere gratitude and appreciation. <br> <br>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greek Orthodox Community of the West Island of Montreal: https://greekwestisland.org/ or a mental health charity of your choice. <br> <br>Church services will be held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 20 Brunswick Boulevard, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, H9B 2N8, followed by her funeral at 11:30 a.m. at Rideau Funeral Home & Cemetery, 4239 Sources Boulevard, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, H9B 2A6. <br> <br>Visitation will take place on Sunday, June 28, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rideau Funeral Home & Cemetery. <br></div>
