Voula (Melathopoulos) Christopher

Voula Christopher (nee Melathopoulos), our cherished mother, grandmother and sister, passed away suddenly on April 13, 2022.

Voula is survived by her proud and devoted children Helen (Darcy) Edge, Barb, Sam (Alex) and Chris (Jana), grandchildren Brittney Edge, Kenny Zannis, Christopher Edge, Olivia, Jack and Marley, and honorary daughter Kathy (Mike) Desautels and grandchildren Lucas and Nathaniel Desautels, all of whom are devastated by this loss. Voula is also survived by her sister Zoe (Peter) Petropoulos. Voula is predeceased by her husband (Peter) and her father, mother and two brothers (Anthony, Barbara, George (Foto) and Stavros Melathopoulos).

Alongside her mother and brother George, at the age of 13, Voula immigrated to Canada in 1951 and settled in Calgary, reuniting with Stavros and Zoe to begin their new chapter in life.  Unbeknownst to Voula, her future husband, Peter, was on the same ship that brought the migrants to the Port of Halifax. Voula married Peter in 1958, and was no stranger to hard work as she raised her four children whilst working as a receptionist at Paramount Life, Encor Energy and Talisman Energy and moonlighting as host, server and accountant at Peter’s many restaurants in Calgary, rural Alberta (including Oyen, Whitecourt and Vulcan) and Sicamous, British Columbia.

Voula was also dedicated to helping the less fortunate through her efforts with various charitable organizations. For years, Voula provided friendship and comfort to Calgarians nearing end-of-life or otherwise seeking safety and security at Hospice Calgary and the Calgary Drop-in Centre. Voula worked tirelessly for the Greek community as well, and was an active member of the Philoptohos Society for her entire adult life.

Above all, Voula was gentle, happy, kindhearted, thoughtful, devout and loving, and an ideal to her children and grandchildren.  The positive impact she made on her family, friends and community is immeasurable and, in her wake, she leaves behind a cast of many that are as shocked by her sudden passing as they were enriched from their connection with her.

Voula possessed a beautiful soul, and we were blessed to call her our mother, grandmother and sister.  She will be dearly missed, for all time.

Relatives and close friends are invited to Prayers at Evan J. Strong Funeral Services (5502 2nd Street S.W.) at 3:00 p m on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.  Funeral Service will be held at St. Demetrios Orthodox Church (1 Tamarac Crescent SW) on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 11:00 am (which will be livestreamed on the St. Demetrios Orthodox Church page at www.YouTube.com). Graveside service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Stories of Voula’s life, and coffee, to be shared thereafter at St. Demetrios.

Family asks that those in attendance kindly wear a mask.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the St. Demetrios Orthodox Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Voula (Melathopoulos) Christopher, please visit our floral store.