Triso (Rallios) Kolias

Triso Kolias passed away peacefully on May 7, 2023, surrounded by her loving daughters. She was predeceased by her wonderful husband of 59 years, Nick.

Triso was born in 1935 in a small, charming Greek village, Meligou, Arkadia, Greece. She came into the world with an eye for style, training as a professional seamstress in Athens. After she completed her training, she returned to Meligou where she was matched as a bride to her future husband by his sister, who lived in the village. Nick had already immigrated to Canada and they had never met. After getting engaged and writing letters to each other for a year, at the age of 20 she courageously made the journey from Greece to Calgary, Alberta by ship and by train, and married her fiancé. Despite the challenges she faced as a new immigrant, she embraced the opportunity to build a life in Canada with energy and determination. She learned the language, got her driver’s license, continued to sew, and was a dedicated wife. As she began having children, she made sure they participated in wonderful opportunities she did not have growing up, enrolling them in swimming, dance, music, and ski lessons.

Triso was a devoted mother and exceptional homemaker. In addition to being a talented seamstress, she was a fabulous cook and avid gardener – a veritable Greek Martha Stewart! Friends and extended family will remember the generous St. Nicholas parties she hosted in honour of her husband’s name day and the tables full of her home cooked food and sweets.

She was also an active member of the Greek Community of Calgary, as a parishioner of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, and as a volunteer for the Daughters of Penelope and the Philoptochos Society.

Triso was fortunate to be able to travel extensively with her husband when her daughters were older and more settled. This included a tour of Southeast Asia and China, many visits back to Greece to spend time with family, and many trips to Hawaii escaping winter with friends from Calgary where they met fellow Greeks from all over North America. The pictures from these trips show they had a fabulous time and lived life to the fullest. It was around this time that Triso’s daughters started their own families. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave her great joy.

She spent her final years in Amica Britannia as a beloved resident where she received incredible compassion and care, for which her family will be forever grateful.

Triso leaves behind her daughters, Angela (Alexis), Stamatina (Sotirios), Margaret (Andreas) and Vivian (Joseph); her grandchildren, Christine (Xavier), Labis, Teresa (Peter), Nikos, Jacqueline, Alexis, James, and Cleo; and her great grandchildren, Peter, Aristotle, Eva, Apollo, Margareta, and Sotiris.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers at Evan J. Strong Funeral Services (5502 2 Street S.W.) on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at 6:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (1 Tamarac Crescent SW) on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 11:00 am, with the very Rev. Fr. Thomas Sandberg presiding. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the CLEAR Foundation through its website www.clearalzheimers.ca or by mail at PO Box 45074 Surrey B.C. V4A 9L1.  

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