It is with the utmost sadness and sorrow that we announce the passing of (Rebecca) Anna Giannakopoulos, known to our lovely community of Kirkland Lake as “Mama” on April 24th, 2018 at the much too young age of 54 years. Surrounded by her loving and devoted family, Mama passed peacefully at Kirkland & District Hospital in the Hospice Suite after a short battle with cancer.
Mama is survived by her husband, Constantinos (Kosta) Giannakopoulos of 35 years. They were married in St. John’s, Newfoundland before starting a family of their own with their children, Sarah Athanasia Sasseville, and “Stash” Anastasios Giannakopoulos.
She leaves behind her sister Deanna Belec, and her nieces and nephews, Sabrina, Sheldon, Shannon, and Stacy McLean that reside in Kirkland Lake. She will be lovingly remembered by her mother Helen McLean, father Johnny McLean, her sisters Lori McLean, Twila McLean Lafitte, Wanda McLean, her brothers Johnny and Donald McLean, and Joe Bennett, all of Newfoundland.
Becoming a grandmother to her beautiful granddaughters Cailyn and Kylee Gratton was one of the most joyous blessings in her life. She claimed the title of “Commercial Grandma” while we referred to her as Nana, and Betti Gratton would be their “Residential Grandma”. In the last 3 years, Mama was blessed with Stash’s girlfriend, Cheryl Alford, and adopted her delightful children Grace and Quinton Pigeau as her grandchildren as well.
Mama had a heart of gold and wore it on her sleeve. She never let anyone go without and most often you were fighting a losing battle if you tried to pay for your food! Whether it was a tray of Mille Feuille delivered at Christmas time, Moonshine Cherries at the bar, sending meals in times of sorrow, or catering entire funerals at no cost, Mama was always there and you could always count on her.
Even during her courageous fight with cancer, Mama never wanted to put anyone out and would always think of everyone else first. During her 9 week stay at Kirkland & District Hospital, she was so considerate of the wonderful nurses who went all out to ensure she was comfortable and did everything they could to keep her as happy as could be.
Without a doubt, Kirkland Lake has lost a monumental member of our community and she will be terribly missed by all of those that she touched. If love could have saved her, she would have lived forever. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she reached and all that she would want is for us to pay it forward.
Aquamation:
French Family Funeral Home & Crematorium
Floral Tributes:
Please place tribute orders on the link below
Memorial Service:
Royal Canadian Legion
1 Summerhayes Avenue
Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3H7
Saturday, May 5th, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Rebecca Anna Giannakopoulos 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Kirkland Lake, Province: Ontario
