Table of Contents
Navigate to another page from here by clicking on a letter. Each letter is the first letter in a person’s LAST name.
L…
Lallas (née Girgulis), Foto
1902 – 1975
Mrs. Foto A. Lallas, 73, of 2928 College Ave., who lived in Regina for more than 40 years, died Monday.
Born in Kastri, Greece, on May 20, 1902, Mrs. Lallas attended school there before moving to Saskatoon in 1926. She moved to Regina to marry Albert D. Lallas on April 15, 1934. Mr.Lallas was a partner in the Balmoral Cafe in Regina for many years.
Mrs. Lallas was a charter member of the Daughters of Penelope and a member of the Philoptohos Society.
She is survived by her husband; seven brothers: William H. Girgulis of Regina, Sam and James of Saskatoon, Nick of Sidney, B.C., Poti, George, and Gus in Greece; and a sister, Mrs. Rose Kangles of Regina. She was predeceased by a brother, John.
Prayers will be said Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Speers Funeral Chapel.
Funeral service will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox church at 3000 Argyle Rd. Burial will be in Regina Cemetery.
Regina Leader-Post, July 8, 1975, p. 2.
Lambiris, Jim
1945 – 2012
With heavy hearts, the family of Jim Lambiris announces his passing on Friday, March 23rd at St. Paul’s Hospital ICU. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Donna; his sons John (Kristin) and Matthew (Jenna); his brother Tom (Alexandra); his sister Georgia (Bill); in-laws Velda (Zane), Doug (Val), Bob (Lonnie); his nieces and nephews; and the many friends whose lives he touched. He was a sweet man with a wry sense of humour, a kind heart, and enjoyed family vacations to the lake, the mountains, and ‘the old country’. His friends will never forget his infectious laugh, sly jokes, and love of political debates.
We would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of St. Paul’s for their amazing work, compassion, and kindness given to both Jim and his family; they made the last days peaceful and comfortable for him and all of us.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Saskatoon Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 28th at 1 p.m. with services being led by Father Michael of the Koimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, followed by a reception at the Edwards Family Centre. Memorial donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, 1702 20th St. W, Saskatoon, SK, S7M 0Z9. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Saskatoon Funeral Home.
‘What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.’ Pericles 495-429BC.
Source: Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, March 24, 2012
Lappas, Elsie Ella
1907 – 1949
The death of Elsie Lappas of 205 Avenue M, south, occurred in a local hospital on Wednesday, November 9, 1949.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 12 at 2.30 p.m. from the chapel of the Saskatoon Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. A. Goos.
Surviving are: one daughter, Deanna, and one son, Andy Lappas of Saskatoon; also, one brother, C. O. Schultz, Killaley, Sask.; and three sisters: Mrs. Hulda Dorner, Osooyos. P.C., Mrs. Emma Johannsen, Wainwright, Alta., and Mrs. Metha Kohnen, Saskatoon.
The late Mrs. Lappas was predeceased by her husband December 22, 1948. Interment will be made in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 10, 1949, p. 26
Lappas, Nick
Circa 1890 – 1948
Nick Lappas, 205 Avenue M. south, well-known member of the local Greek colony, died on Wednesday. The funeral will be held at 2.30 Friday afternoon from the Saskatoon Funeral Home.
“Nick,” as he was known to hundreds of Saskatoonians, was a wealthy man at one time but the depression forced him “to the wall.” He had been associated with several successful cafe ventures here, including the old “Silver Grey,” but in recent years had eked out an uneasy living.
Always gay and happy, he never failed to have a smile or wisecrack for his friends and, somewhat unusual as one Greek said today, he had no enemies in the Greek colony.
He is survived by his widow and two children.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, December 23, 1948, p. 3.
Leakos (neé Kortes), Agata
1904 – 1985
Agata Leakos (nee Kortes)
The death of Mrs. Agatha Leakos, age 80 years of #8 MacDermid Crescent, Saskatoon, occurred in a local hospital on July 12, 1985. The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 1:30 p.m. from Koimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 1020 Dufferin Avenue conducted by the Rev. John Nikolaou. Prayers will be offered on Monday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Saskatoon Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, 1410 Kilburn Avenue, or the Canadian Diabetic Association, would be appreciated.
Surviving is a daughter, Mrs. Evangeline (James) Danabassis of Saskatoon; two sons, Spero (Georgia) Leakos, and Dr. James (Jeanne) Leakos both of Saskatoon; fourteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Paul Kortes of Edmonton and a sister, Helen in Greece. She was predeceased by her husband, Steve on March 26, 1975.
Mrs. Leakos was born in Bezoula, Karditsa, Greece on October 10, 1904. She came to Vancouver, B.C. in 1920 and lived there until 1927 when she moved, with her husband to Moose Jaw. In 1930, she came to Saskatoon and has lived here since.
Mrs. Leakos was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. She had been very active in the Greek Community and for this, was awarded a plaque on March 11, 1974 from the community in appreciation of her efforts. Mrs. Leakos was a member of the Daughters of Penelope and had served as President.
Interment will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 15, 1985, p. 26
Leakos, Dr. Jim
1929 – 1991
The eminent physician and prominent horse breeder, Dr. Jim Leakos died Monday March 18, 1991 in Saskatoon. He was 62.
The funeral was held at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, with Saskatoon Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
The ear, nose and throat specialist was born in Saskatoon to Agatha and Steve, a well-known local restaurateur.
As a youth, he spent countless hours in his father’s cafe, the Commodore, a popular gathering spot for local athletes.
Perhaps it was this influence that prompted Leakos to become active in sports from a young age
A short-lived involvement with hockey included winning the city public championship while he was Grade student at King George School.
In high school, he and his brother, Spero, played on a basketball team which Jim captained to Nutana Collegiate’s first provincial championship in 1948. The two also joined forces on the Nutana boys soccer team which won two consecutive city championships.
Later, Leakos played semi-pro baseball with the local Commodores and toiled with the fastball Merchants at the Canadian championships in 1948.
Horse racing didn’t hold the slightest interest until he moved to Calgary as a medical intern. Then, his interest in the sport was purely recreational as he devoted most of his energy to a budding career specialty.
Following a two-year tenure at the University of Saskatchewan, he moved to the University of Alberta before interning in Edmonton and Calgary. In 1966, he headed to New York to study his specialty. Leakos spent three years there before returning to Saskatoon to establish his practice.
He was a pioneer in otolaryngology, performing the first ear operations in Canada during the early 1960s.
As his star rose in the medical community, he also became interested in horses through his daughter Sandra’s involvement with the Pony Club
As he became more accustomed to horses, he got involved in a thoroughbred breeding operation in 1977 and dreamed of raising a horse that would win the Triple Crown.
His Marrobrich was the first local-born horse to win the Saskatchewan Derby in 1982.
Leakos is survived by his wife Jeanne and six children.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, March 20, 1991, p. C10
Jeanne Leakos
1927 – 2022
With sadness the family announces the death of Jeanne Leakos occurred peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Monday, December 19, 2022. She is survived by her children: Sandra (Stewart) Foster, Steven (Shona) Leakos, Suzanne Leakos, Mark Leakos, Robert (Gina) Leakos, Richard (Rhonda) Leakos; twelve grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband James, daughter-in-law Wanda and her 10 siblings.
Jeanne was born in 1927 in Bellevue, SK. She attended nursing school in Prince Albert and met her husband James in Calgary. They moved to New York where James did his residency at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital. They moved back to Saskatoon in 1959, where they raised their six children eventually moving to the farm south of Saskatoon. She moved back into Saskatoon in 2013 where she lived until her passing.
Until the pandemic, mom attended church every Sunday in person but since, she has been attending online and praying the Rosary daily. Mom enjoyed ceramics, painting, puzzles, Sudoku, aqua size and playing trivia crack with her friend Faye. Mom enjoyed spending time with family. She hosted many holiday gatherings on the farm and always included family and friends, so no one was alone on special holidays.
In lieu of flowers, for those so wishing, memorial donations may be made to the Saskatoon Food Bank.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated by Fr. Stefano Penna on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, December 21, 2022
Leakos, Spero
1927 – 2020
Spero Leakos, whose love for baseball influenced a city, died this weekend at the age of 92.
In 1971, the Star Phoenix described Leakos as being “as familiar to baseball in Saskatoon as Rusty Staub is to Montreal and Brooks Robinson is to Baltimore.”
Leakos was in the stands when Don Larson threw his perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and they named a ballpark after him here in Saskatoon calling it Leakos Field. But Spero’s modesty prevented him from referring to it that way.
He would never call it Leakos Field. He would always say “Oh, it’s over on that other field,” Greg Brons, Baseball Saskatchewan’s high-performance director, said Monday. I’d say, “You mean Leakos Field?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever.”
“I always loved that about him He was just a humble guy, you know?”
Leakos, whose family worked in Saskatoon’s restaurant business, ran the semi-pro Saskatoon Commodores in the 1950s and 60s, hiring future Major League players such as John Boccabella to play locally.
He moved his Commodores into the North Saskatchewan League after the Western Canada Baseball League folded and ran them into the 1970s. He later operated the Dodgers in the Saskatoon senior league and maintained a wide web of baseball contacts.
In 1969, Star Phoenix columnist Bob Hughes wrote that Leakos worked virtually alone in keeping the Commodores and senior baseball alive in Saskatoon, often at his own financial expense, and added that at night’s game, “he’ll be breathing fire and baseball, just like he always has.”
When Leakes moved to Calgary in 2004, long-time baseball executive Pat Gillick, a good friend, made sure to head into Saskatoon for his farewell tribute. That tribute, they figured, was one way to get Leakos out of the ballpark, even if it was just for a few hours.
“He was involved for so long, putting all his time and energy into it”, Brons says.
“At his send-off, he thanked Georgia, his wife. Georgia didn’t see him a lot because he was always at the baseball diamond. He sacrificed lot for baseball in Saskatoon.
“When you’re coaching baseball, we just play so many danged games, and when our summers are as short as they are, we try to compress them into a short time span. So, you’re away from your family a lot, and he mentioned that at his send-off, thanking Georgia for her patience.”
Naturally, Georgia received her engagement ring while they headed to Dodger Stadium one day. They raised three sons.
Leakos was a big sports fan in general, with basketball another favourite. But in the summertime, dusty diamonds were his favourite stopping point.
“He never wanted the limelight.” Brons says. “He just loved being at the ball- park.”
Kevin Mitchell, “Baseball builder and ‘humble guy’ made impact on local diamonds”, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, March 10, 2020, p. B1; photo credit: Gord Waldner, Star-Phoenix.
Source: Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, Newsletter, May 2020 to July 2020, p. 2 (https://www.saskatoonsportshalloffame.com/newsletters/SSHofF_Newsletter49_May2020.pdf).
Leakos, Steve
1892-1975
Saskatoon restaurateur and sports enthusiast Steve Leakos died in a local hospital Wednesday following a lengthy illness.
Mr. Leakos, 83, of 8 MacDermid Crescent, operated the Commodore Cafe 108 Second Ave North, from 1933 until his retirement in 1973.
He was active in organizing hockey and fastball and sponsored the Commodores, a team in the Western Canada Baseball League from 1968 until 1963 when the league was disbanded. He continued to sponsor a Saskatoon team under the Commodore name in the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League until 1973.
In 1970, Mr. Leakos offered the city of Saskatoon a $60,000 interest-free loan to construct a baseball park, but aldermen did not accept the offer. The city would have been responsible for maintaining the park, and the loan would have been repaid through revenue from the park.
Mr. Leakos was born in Greece and emigrated to the United States in 1906. He then moved to Vancouver in 1923 and Moose Jaw in 1927, prior to settling in Saskatoon.
Mr. Leakos served as president of the Dominion Chapter No. 9 of the Order of Ahepa and also as district governor of Order of Ahepa No 24.
He is survived by his wife Agatha, sons Dr. James Leakos and Spero Leakos all of Saskatoon, and a daughter, Mrs. James Danabassis of Sparwood, British Columbia.
Funeral service will be Saturday at 2 pm, from Assumption Greek Orthodox Church at 1029 Dufferin Ave with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Source: Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, March 27, 1975, p. 5.
Lekatsas, Evangelia (Angela) Helen
1991 – 1997
Peacefully, after a courageous battle with cancer, Evangelia (Angela) Helen Lekatsas passed away on August 5, 1997, at the Children’s Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba. During her six short years, she touched many hearts and left the gift of love with all who knew her. Her enthusiastic hugs, kisses and a great big smile will never be forgotten.
Angela was born on February 28, 1991, in Saskatoon, SK, and moved to Winnipeg in October 1996. For everyone who knew Angela, it was evident how much of an effect she had on people with her tender loving nature shining through in everything she did. Her love for music, dancing, and school was where she truly shone.
Angela was always thinking of others. Her thoughtfulness and resilience made her strong in her journey. The wisdom and the teachings that Angela gave to us have made our lives richer.
Angela will be missed by Mom and Dad (Angela and Andrew Lekatsas); Grandma (Evangelia Lekatsas); godfather (Theodore Katsiris); and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Visitation for family and friends will take place at Saskatoon Funeral Home (338 4th Ave. N.) on Saturday evening August 9; 7:00p.m.-9:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will take place on Monday, August 11, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. at the Koimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church (1020 Dufferin Avenue, Saskatoon, SK) conducted by Rev. Fr. John Nikolaou. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home. Instead of flowers donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society (438 2nd Ave. N. Saskatoon, SK.)
I love you; you love me. We’re a happy family. With a great big hug.
And a kiss from me to you. Won’t you say you love me too?
“We love you Beba”
Mommy and Daddy
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, August 9, 1997, p. D7
Lekatsas, Evangelia
1921 – 2010
It is with sadness that the family announces that Evangelia Lekatsas passed away peacefully at Royal University Hospital on Sunday, October 31, 2010. She was predeceased by her parents Stamatina and Anastasios Markris, her husband Theodoros Nicolas, grand-daughter Evangelia (Beba) Lekatsas and five Siblings. Evangelia is survived by her children Andrew (Angela) Lekatsas of Calgary, Helen (Bill) Katsiris of Chlliwack, and Tina (Gus) Korolis of Saskatoon; grandchildren Demitra Katsiris, Theodoros Katsiris, Constantine (Jennifer) Katsiris, Evanghelia Katsiris, Anastasia (Kenneth) Sherlock, Evangelia (Christopher) Friedt, George Korolis, Niki Lekatsas, Theodore Lekatsas; great-grandchildren Christopher, Vasiliki, Athena, Efthimiopoulos, Loukas, Mikaela, Sophia Sherlock; brother Panagiotis (Elli) Makri of Greece.
One of seven children, Evangelia was born on June 21st, 1921, in the olive producing village of Eleohori, Arcadia Greece. She had a simple and hard-working life as common in those times. She survived hardships of the depression, civil unrest (Antartiko) and WWII. During this period in her life many sad and a few comical stories were created, which she enjoyed sharing many times over, with whoever would take the time to listen. Today she is still remembered as possibly the first girl in the village to marry what was then considered `A Foreigner’ when she married Theodoros, a Greek Romanian.
In 1964, Evangelia and Theodoros emigrated to New Zealand with the hope and promise of a better future for their three children. For ten years, she worked at a chocolate factory and a shoe factory. She had many stories during that time as well. When their eldest daughter married and settled in Saskatoon, the decision was made that the entire family would re-locate and re-unite in Canada. Theodoros passed away before this could occur; however, Evangelia still followed through in 1978, when she and her other two children emigrated to Canada.
Her hobbies were reading her Greek Orthodox books, watching the Greek Channel (even the soaps), gardening and a variety of needle crafts. Her biggest passion was her grand and great-grandchildren. The older ones will tell you their ability to speak Greek was mostly due to her time and patience in teaching them the language.
Evangelia, our mother, grand and great-grandmother, will be sorely missed and forever remembered. The Prayer Vigil will take place at Saskatoon Funeral Home on Wednesday evening November 3, 2010, at 7:30 pm and the Funeral Liturgy will be Celebrated on Thursday morning November 4th at 11:00 am at Koimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church (1020 Dufferin Ave) with burial following at Woodlawn Cemetery. Fr. Spyridon Vandoros will preside at both services.
Source: Legacy Remembers, November 1, 2010
Leonidas (née Varus), Anita
1924 – 2013
Anita Leonidas passed peacefully on June 9, 2013. She was a loving wife, mother, and friend, and is survived by Diane Leonidas (daughter), Tom Leonidas (son), and granddaughters Christina and Sophia Leonidas. She was married to her husband Tom for 60 years before his passing on October 30, 2012.
Anita was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada) on May 30th, 1924, to Rebecca and Anthony Varvis. Growing up she loved to learn and had a special affection for the French language. She loved to skate and had fond memories of skating across the frozen lakes in Saskatoon on the way to school. After her father passed away in her early teens, Anita started to work to help support her mother and sister.
Eventually, she and her family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) where she continued to work. She met Tom in Vancouver. She eventually moved to Seattle where Tom followed her; they were married in Seattle in 1952 and began their life together. Anita continued to work until the birth of their daughter when she then became a full-time mother.
Anita was an active church volunteer at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle, helping with many fundraisers and baking for Greek Festivals for over 35 years. She helped author Greek Cooking in an American Kitchen, a bestselling cookbook that helped and continues to help raise funds for the church.
In the last 17 years of her life, she focused a lot of her love on her granddaughters and shared many wonderful memories with them. Anita will always be remembered as someone who cared about others; gave back to her church community; and did so with humility and compassion. May her memory be eternal!
Remembrances may be made to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112.
Limberatos, Joseph
1890 – 1951
Joseph Limberatos, 62, of 214 First Avenue South, a resident of Saskatoon for 31 years, died Monday in a local hospital. Mr. Limberatos was born in Greece and migrated to the United States 44 years ago. He came to Canada in 1913.
He was in business at Wilkie for a time before moving to Saskatoon where he was manager of the Wilkie Cafe.
He is survived by a brother, Nestor, living in Portland, Oregon, and six brothers and three sisters in Greece.
The funeral will be at 2 o’clock Friday [July 20, 1951] afternoon from the chapel of the Saskatoon Funeral Home with the Rev, T. Kowalishin officiating. Burial will be in the Greek plot at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Source: Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 18, 1951, p. 3.
Loubardeas, Constantinos (Gus)
1934 – 2020
On Monday, April 20, 2020, Constantinos (Gus) Loubardeas, at the age of 85.,passed away peacefully. The world has lost a kind and generous man, known for his warm smile.
Gus was born in the town of Paralio Astros, Greece to his parents Helen and Peter Loubardeas. Surviving sistersare Theodoti (Manoli) Orfanos, Panayota Georgiou, Alexandra Mavitzis, and brother Stavros Loubardias (Janice Sulik). He came to Canada in 1959 by boat with nothing more than a small suitcase and a grade-one education.
In his early years, he worked in a variety of small businesses including Mr. Softie Ice Cream Truck, A & W, and Well’s Painting. He was the founder of Venice Pizza and Spaghetti House, which grew to 24 restaurants at its peak and was spread across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Gus always loved the restaurant business with his final venture being the Beacon Drive In (Ice Cream Shop) in Victoria.
Gus was the definition of a successful entrepreneur. His generosity meant that he helped many others become entrepreneurs. He is survived by his first wife Jean Loubardeas; their son Peter (Barbara) Loubardeas and their children Michael (Kendra), Christopher and Stephanie; daughter Helen (Tony) Turay and their children Maria (Ashton) Phillips, Katie; great-grandchildren Maxwell and Arthur; his second wife Helen Buckley-Loubardeas and their daughter Deanne Loubardeas (Nicole Little). He will also be greatly missed by his special dog Mimi.
He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Dimitris (infant) and Haralambos; sister Triantafillia; sister-in-law Eleni Loubardeas; and brothers-in-law Nick Theodorou and Chris Georgiou.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to all the staff at the Amica Douglas House for their kind support during his stay. A special thank you to Rev. Father George Tolias and nurse Suman. His friends and family will truly miss his positive loving support.
Due to COVID-19, there will be a private family Greek Orthodox service in Victoria, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice in Gus’s memory. Arrangements entrusted to McCall Gardens.
Rest in Peace
Ο Θεός να σε ανάπαυση
Source: Saskatoon StarPhoenix, April 25, 2020, p. NP7.
Loubardeas, Ioanna (Jean)
1933 – 2023
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mother, Ioanna (Jean) Loubardeas, at the age of 89 years, one month shy of her 90th birthday. She was a devoted mother to Peter (Barbara) Loubardeas and Helen (Tony) Turay. She was a proud Yiayia to Michael (Kendra), Christopher, Stephanie (Richard), Maria (Ashton), Katie (Liam); and great grandma to Maxwell, Arthur, Ellie and Theodore.
Jean was born in the town of Kastri, Arcadia, Greece and immigrated to Canada in 1958, devoting her life to family and church with the Greek Orthodox Community of Saskatoon. She took pride in maintaining an active lifestyle, harvesting a bountiful garden, and volunteering for the Greek Community. We all enjoyed mom’s endless Greek cooking and baking. One of mom’s proudest accomplishments was having donated blood to the Red Cross over 100 times.
The family would like to thank the sisters and staff at St. Joseph’s Care Home for their compassionate care.
Jean is survived by her twin sister Athanasia Kotopouli of Greece; Kalomoira (Mary) Couros of Saskatoon; and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and Greece. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Jean’s memory to Alzheimers Society of Saskatchewan or St. Joseph’s Home (33 Valens Drive Saskatoon, SK S7L 3S2).
There will be a private family service with interment to follow at the Greek section at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Saskatoon Funeral Home.
Source: Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, August 11, 2023
Lucas (née Geatros), Helen
1931 – 2023
Photo Source: helenlucas.com/retrospective/retro
Family and friends are mourning the passing of Helen Lucas on November 27, 2023. Helen was a huge presence in the lives of all who knew her. Her legacy is one of kindness, grace, generosity, authenticity, and advocacy for the well-being of others. She had the heart and passion of an artist, as expressed in her joyous floral paintings. Inspired by her mother’s flower gardens, always bursting with colour, Helen’s paintings featured intense colours and oversized shapes on large canvases. Surprisingly, they are intimate and approachable, inviting the viewer to enter Helen’s world of love and joy.
From an early age, her artistic talents were evident. Born in 1931 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, to Greek parents, Effie (Eftihia) and William Geatros, she grew up in Saskatoon and then attended the Ontario College of Art (1950-1954). After marriage and the birth of two daughters, she started exhibiting her early black-and-white figurative works.
Since 1953, Helen had more than 50 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows in Canada, the US, and in Italy, where she was invited to participate in the Florence Biennale. In 2017, a major retrospective of her artwork was presented by York University. Her paintings can be seen in countless private, corporate, and public collections, including The Canadian War Museum, The King City Municipal Offices, Sick Kids Hospital, and The Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre. York University has the largest collection of her artworks, as well as her archive.
Between 1973 and 1979, Helen was a Drawing and Painting Master at Sheridan College, voted “Teacher of the Year.” Other highlights of her career include an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from York University in 1991 and a first-place award in two categories for the hour-long documentary on her life at the Chicago International Film Festival. Additional awards include The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012, and three Grants from the Ontario Arts Council.
Helen published several books, including A Christmas Birthday Story, in collaboration with Margaret Laurence in 1980.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Michelle; her sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Jeff; sons-in-law, Frank and Alan; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Derek; sister, Diane; brother-in-law, William; and, in 2014, her beloved daughter, Andrea.
Our hearts are heavy, yet her spirit lives on in memory and her paintings. We know that Helen will continue to enchant while dancing with her Angels and Doves.
A private funeral will take place, and visitation will be on Thursday, December 7th between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y 3Y9. Instead of flowers, kindly make donations to the Alzheimer Society.
For more information about Helen’s life, visit: helenlucas.com
Source: Globe and Mail, December 2, 2023.