Obituary of Stella Kalavesis

Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Stella Kalavesis passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, October, 3, 2014 at the Holiday Manor nursing home in Canoga Park, California, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 77 years of age. She is now reunited with her mother, father and her older sister Katina. Stella was raised on the beautiful island of Crete in Greece, the youngest of three daughters. Before immigrating to Montreal, Quebec, at the age of 18, Stella had a thriving business of sewing men's three-piece business suits. Shortly after arriving in Montreal, Quebec, Stella met Kyriakos ("Gary") Kalavesis and were soon married. Together they raised five beautiful children. After about 8 years, they moved the family to sunny southern California, where they lived for the next eight years, before moving to British Columbia, Canada, for 10 years. In 1984, Stella moved back to sunny southern California where she remained until her recent passing. Stella was a devout Greek Orthodox and a former member of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge. Stella was always happiest spending time with her grandchildren, sewing, cooking, baking and knitting and crotcheting. Stella was always a thoughtful and selfless women, especially when it came to her children, grandchildren and friends. Stella is survived by her ex-husband Kyriakos ("Gary") Kalavesis; her one sister Helen Brindalos; her five children Ted Kalavesis, Antonia Kalavesis, Voula (Kalavesis) Boyer, Paul Kalavesis and Alex Kalavesis; her five grandchildren Kristopher Kalavesis, Erika (Kalavesis) Courage, Chase Boyer, Zane Kalavesis and Sloan Kalavesis. Stella was preceded in death by her mother and father Antonia and Pavlos Kavazaki, and her one sister Katina Dascaroliss. A memorial service will be held in Stella's honor on Thursday, October 9, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rose Family Funeral Home, 4444 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA 93063. If you are interested in sending donations on Stella's behalf to the Alzheimer's Association, in lieu of flowers, the Kalavesis family would be very honored. Alzheimer's Association, Ventura County Regional Office, 145 Hodencamp Road, Suite 205, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.