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Απεβίωσε στη Μελβούρνη στις 23 Νοεμβρίου 2007 η αγαπητή Θεώνη (Αναστασάκη) ετών 63 από τον Σταυρό Ιθάκης. Εκηδεύθη εκ του Ιερού Ναού Αγίας Αικατερίνης Malvern, παρουσία συγγενών και φίλων.

Στο συζυγό της Ευθύμιο, τέκνα Αντώνιο-Patricia, Κωνσταντίνο-Stephanie, Ελένη-Jason, εγγόνια, αδέλφια και οικογένειες και λοιπούς συγγενείς, θερμά συλλυπητήρια.

A TRIBUTE TO THEONI

Theoni Anastasakis nee Soupionas was born on 27 January 1944 in Agios Ioannis, Ithaki. Theoni was the second child of Kosta and Katerina (Kallinikos) Soupionas and sister of Yianni, Gerasimoula, Kaliopi, Telemachos and Alexandros Soupionas. Theoni and her family moved from Agios Ioannis to Stavros after the earthquake in Ithaki (1953). When Theoni was 17 she left Greece to come to Australia, where she met and married Themeo Anastasakis. They had three children, Tony, Kosta and Helen. Tony is married to Trish and they have two boys. Kosta lives in London and is a photographer for UNICEF, Helen and her partner Jason have a son. Theoni lived for her family and enjoyed looking after her three grandsons. Unfortunately her life was taken away far too young. She was loved by all who knew her and always had an affectionate smile for everyone. Theoni will be missed by us all.
De-arn Soupionas

ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΣ BLACK (ΜΑΥΡΟΜΑΤΗΣ)

Απεβίωσε στη Μελβούρνη στις 24 Ιανουαρίου 2008 ο σεβαστός Νίκος Μαυρομάτης. Εκηδεύθη εκ του Ιερού Ναού Ευαγγελισμού East Melbourne όπου συγγενείς και φίλοι συνόδευσαν τον μεταστάντα στην τελευταία του κατοικία.

Ο Νίκος γεννήθηκε στη Μελβούρνη το 1926, δέυτερος υιός των Διονυσίου και Ανδριάννας από την Κολλιερή Ιθάκης, αδελφός του Κώστα. Ο αείμνηστος ήταν μέλος και υποστηρικτής του Συνδέσμου μας, πάντοτε στις εκδηλώσεις βοηθούσε ακούραστα. Υπηρέτησε και ως μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου.

Στη συζυγό του Desma, κόρη Sandra, και λοιπούς συγγενείς, θερμά συλληπητήρια.

NICK MAVROMATIS (BLACK)
12 July 1926 – 24 January 2008

Blue-eyed, fair and a quiet-natured child, Nick Black (Mavromatis) suffered a lot when as a child he battled with anaemia and at the age of seven or eight with the loss of his father. He was taken from his mother, who was destitute and unable to cope, and placed in the ‘Melbourne Orphanage”, as was the custom in those times. At the age of fifteen, with the help of a philanthropist, he was back with his mother, in order to study and sit for his merit exam. Times were still hard and whilst still at school, he began working in the evenings and doing his homework in class. Questioned by the headmaster, the reason why was explained, and he was allowed to proceed. He passed all his exams and went on to attend University High School, excelling in school work and sports, played amateur football with another pupil, John Coleman, bike-racing, wrestling, tennis with Frank Sedgman and billiards with Walter Lindrum, who presented Nick with one of his cues.

After leaving school, he continued working days and nights, thus placing a deposit on a house and sending money to his brother in Greece. He began working for a time with Victorian Railways then Australia Post, where on his delivery round in Carlton, he came to know his future wife Desma. They married in 1963 and after passing another exam, he joined the Customs Service. He later went back to Australia Post, where he was promoted to Head Office until early 1984, when he retired after suffering a cardiac infarct. In 1985, he visited the Greek Islands with Desma. His favourite pastimes were fishing, hosting barbeques, preparing food for parties and helping out at the Ithacan Club. On the weekends, at Geelong, he would gather ‘lahana’ with his favourite Aunty Kaliroi, who gave him the nickname ‘Torpilla’. He was reluctant to talk of the past but mentioned his time in Hamilton, where his father and uncle ran the Victoria Cafe, and time spent in Townsville where he was guarded by a German shepherd dog and rode on the back of a sheep. He was also instrumental in forming the Police Boy’s Club, which was a way of keeping youths off the street. He cherished his father-in-law’s walking stick and being part of the Paizes family.

Nick was a quiet achiever, who in this world did his very best but the time has come for his well-earned rest.

NICK’S CONTENTMENT.

A game of pool and a beer so cool
As the billiard balls on the table roll.
A bite to eat and a yarn with mates
Just a part of life, he highly rates.

Your loving wife, Desma

ΛΑΜΠΕΤΙΑ Γ. ΚΟΥΒΑΡΑ

Απεβίωσε στη Μελβούρνη στις 11 Δεκεμβρίου 2007 η αγαπητή Λαμπετία Κουβαρά το γένος Τροχούλια, από Κολλιερή Ιθάκης. Εκηδεύθη εκ του Ιερού Ναού Αγίου Ανδρέα Forest Hill. Ενταφιάσθη στο κοιμητήριο Fawkner πλησίον του συζύγου της.

Στις κόρες Τίνα, Δήμητρα, Ακριβή, Δέσποινα, στα εγγόνια, στον αδελφό Σπύρο και οικογένεια και λοιπούς συγγενείς, θερμά συλλυπητήρια.

ΣΤΗΝ ΛΑΜΠΕΤΙΑ

Λίγα λουλούδια που αγαπούσες
Θα σου κρατάνε συντροφιά
Και εμείς εν όσο ζούμε
Θα σε θυμόμαστε παντοτεινά.

Ο αγαπημένος αδελφός Σπύρος.

ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΣ ΜΠΙΝΟΣ

Απεβίωσε στη Μελβούρνη στις 19 Δεκεμβρίου 2007 ο αγαπητός Χαράλαμπος Μπίνος ετών 64 από Βάρος Λήμνου. Εκηδεύθη εκ του Ιερού Ναού Αγίου Νεκταρίου Fawkner, παρουσία συγγενών και φίλων που αποχαιρέτισαν τον μεταστάντα.

Στην συζυγό του Φωτεινή (το ζεύγος Σοφιανού), τα τέκνα Τάνια, Αικατερίνη, Χριστίνα, Σταύρο, στην εγγονή, αδέλφια και οικογένειες και λοιπούς συγγενείς, θερμά συλλυπητήρια.

ELLIE COMINO

I think anyone who remembers Ellie Comino nee Black, would say she was a beautiful and eager to please person who had the family trait of giving 100% of herself in everything she did.

Born in 1924 to Toula and Constantine Black and being two years younger than her brother John, they were constant playmates at their home in Parkville.

Unfortunately the Depression changed the financial circumstances of the family, and although Dux of her class, she had to leave school to work. She became an excellent secretary and, as such, worked for the Americans during the 2nd World War, the watchmakers Hanley’s and for the manager of a department at Myer’.

At nineteen, she fell in love with nineteen-year-old Nicholas A. Comino of Emerald, Queensland, who was training as an aircraft engineer in the Airforce in Melbourne. Andy Comino, also in the Airforce, introduced Nicholas to the Black family. Every weekend during the war, the coupons at the family residence in Caulfield went into feeding any Greek airforce boys away from home.

When John Black returned from overseas, discharged from the airforce, one of his first ‘duties’ was to give Ellie away and we ‘lost’ her to Queensland. Ellie and Nick had two sons, Anthony and Constantine (Tim) within two years of marriage. She immersed herself in motherhood, woodstoves, chopping wood, drought, tank water, conservation, dunnies, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, fishing in the river and all else expected of a Queensland country wife. As the children grew up and went to school, she helped Nick in the large general store after her wonderful father-in-law died unexpectedly.

Gradually a large dam was built, the town grew, and Ellie and Nick built an arcade. Ellie with her ‘city flair’ opened very successful women’s, children’s and babies’ boutiques. She acted lead roles in the Emerald Little Theatre Co. and eventually became its director. She cast and directed many of the best plays the town had seen and wrote clever scripts and songs for three melodramas, supplying peanuts to throw at the villain. Her alliteration was amazing! She was also the driving force and President for many years of the Forum Club of Emerald and flown by private planes as speaker at many Rotary Clubs in ‘her part of Queensland’. She raised money for charitable causes organizing and compering fashion parades. In retirement, every two or three years, Ellie and Nick travelled extensively to Asia, Scandinavia and Europe. Towards the end of their last trip, around 1993, Ellie fell ill. On reaching Nambour, where they were living at the time, it was discovered that she had suffered an aneurysm, then three years ago she had a massive stroke. Sadly, she lost the power of speech and became immobile. With her usual patience, she endured until 19 December 2007.

After a full life, Ellie leaves behind her husband Nick, her two sons, their wives, seven grandchildren and three grandsons-in-law. Like her mother before her, she was a great lady. Nick will miss her. May you rest in peace Ellie, love, God bless.

Her sisters Olga M. Black, Marguerita Panaretos and family, her sister-in-law June Black and family.

The Ithacan Philanthropic Society, Melbourne was saddened to learn of the passing of Ellie Comino and extends sincere condolences to her husband Nicholas, her sons and their families.

Ellie with her husband Nicholas, cutting their 50th Anniversary cake back on the 25th January 1997.

ΜΑΡΙΑΝΘΗ ΣΥΡΜΗ

Η Μαριάνθη Συρμή ήταν η κόρη της Παρασκευής και Κωνσταντίνου Ζαβερδινού από την Ανωγή Ιθάκης. Η Μαριάνθη γεννήθηκε στις 27 Ιουλίου του 1909. Ο πατέρας της έφυγε για την Αμερική όταν η Μαριάνθη ήταν περίπου 2 ετών.

Η Μαριάνθη ήταν πολύ καλή πλέκτρα. Ακόμη και όταν ήταν μικρή ο κόσμος την θαύμαζε για την ικανότητα της στο σχέδιο και στο κέντημα σε ρούχα, κουβέρτες και τραπεζομάντιλα.

Η Μαριάνθη παντρεύτηκε τον Νικόλα Συρμή ο οποίος επίσης ήταν από το ίδιο χωριό, αλλά είχε φύγει απ’ το χωριό όταν ήταν 12 ετών και πήγε στην Νέα Υόρκη. Κατόπιν έφυγε από την Νέα Υόρκη και πήγε στη Νέα Ζηλανδία και αργότερα στην Αυστραλία. Ο Νικόλαος Συρμής πέθανε όταν ήταν νέος αφήνοντας την Μαριάνθη με τέσσερα μικρά παιδιά.

Η Μαριάνθη ήταν ιδρυτικό μέλος του Ιθακησίου Συλλόγου του Queensland και είχε τιμηθεί με (life membership) στις 1/6/91 για την πολύχρονη προσφορά της στην Οργάνωση.

Η μεγαλύτερη παρακαταθήκη που άφησε η Μαριάνθη Συρμή είναι η παρακαταθήκη της αγάπης. Τα παιδιά της θεωρούν πως δεν υπάρχει καλύτερο δώρο από αυτό. Η Μαριάνθη πάντα θα αναφέρεται για την χάρη της και την αγάπη της.
Τα αγαπηπένα σου παιδιά,
Διονύσιος, Παρασκευή, και Κωνσταντίνος.

A TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED MOTHER MARIANTHE SYRMIS

Marianthe was the daughter of Paraskevi nee Kallinikos and Kostandinos Zarver-dinos of Anoghi Ithaca Greece. Marianthe was born on the 27th July about 1909.

When Marianthe was still a toddler her father left to go to the U.S.A. to find better opportunities for the family. Marianthe often looked at a photo of her dad and longed for his return. He returned when she was about nine years of age and as he approached the primary school and a group of young girls came out of the school ground, he picked up mum and lifted her high in the air and said “This one is my daughter, I recognise her by her eyes (same as her father’s) and face.” He was right. Marianthe often told this story as it was an unforgettable happy moment in her life to be reunited with her father and to see him for the very first time and be immediately recognised by him.

Mum was a skilled weaver even at this young age and folks used to marvel at her ability to design, spin and weave large items such as blankets and tablecloths. Her Uncle was head monk at the monastery on Ithaca and she had embroidered and crocheted many of the ecclesiastical cloths that are still in use to-day.

Her father had the nickname of “klabani” which meant the church bell ringer. His job was to ring the bells for every significant event be it a wedding, christening, funeral, or natural disaster such as an earthquake. The bells tolled on mum’s island, Ithaca in memory of her. Marianthe Syrmis loved her island, her village (Anoghi), its people, its culture, its history and songs.

Marianthe married Nicholas Syrmis who also was of the same village but who had left the village at twelve years of age to go to New York. He later left New York, went to New Zealand and later Australia. He had never forgotten seeing a very young girl with very large violet blue eyes. He sent a letter to her Uncle to ask the father if he could return and marry her. The proposal was accepted and Marianthe married Nicholas Syrmis on the 28th February 1928, after which they left for Australia. Both worked hard and over a number of years they had four children. Dionysios (Denis), Chyrsoulla, Voula ( Beulah) and Kostadinos (Con). Their second daughter Chyrsoulla Syrmis died at eight years of age. Nicholas Syrmis also died as a young man leaving a young widow to bring up very small children.

My mother’s passing ends the chain of migration to Queensland. Marianthe was the last of that special group who helped and assisted others to settle in Australia. Marianthe was an early pioneer in North Queensland as she was the first migrant woman to settle with her husband in Ayr, next to the sugar cane town of Home Hill. She worked side by side with her husband helping him to build up his business interests and at the same time assisting others who had just arrived in the town.

Marianthe was a foundation member of the Ithacan Society of Queensland and she received Life Membership from this Society on the 1st June 1991, for her ongoing contribution to the Ithacan Society of Queensland and to “honour her for being amongst the first Ithacan pioneers in Queensland.”

Marianthe Syrmis was a very devoted mother who gave unconditional caring and boundless love to all her children. Her personality was one of a very cheerful person, who always had a ready smile for anyone she greeted. She had a kind word for everyone and showed generous affection and love to all that crossed her path. Her life was focused on her children, her grandchildren, great-grand children, relatives and close friends. In essence she loved life, people, plants, animals and nature and was uninhibited in the giving of her love whether it was to family members or to the nurses in the wards at the hospital or nursing home. She readily gave hugs and words of praise and affection.

A fiercely independent and proud woman, Marianthe, up to the moment that she became critically ill, was able to cook for herself, wash her own clothes and manage her financial affairs. Her mind and memory was razor sharp and though she was visually impaired, hearing impaired and physically impaired these never acted as barriers to prevent her from “finding a way.”

Marianthe was not one to keep idle believing that every moment should be occupied, therefore, in the evening she would always keep her fingers busy, sewing, or doing her craft work. She excelled as a craftswomen being a Grand Champion Winner in all categories that she entered in the crafts section at the Exhibition held in Brisbane over many years till her eyesight began to let her down. Being visually impaired did not stop her creating, in fact right up to the eve of her death, Marianthe Syrmis was still busy with her crochet needle at the hospital and later at the nursing home. In fact, while at the nursing home, Marianthe crocheted a blanket for her single bed, a hat, and numerous doyleys that she gave to various staff members to convey her thanks.

Marianthe was a warrior in the sense that she never let life’s adversities prevent her from trying to find a way and a way was what she found. It was this determination and persistence against the odds that gave her bonus time when the doctors said she had only four to six weeks to live. After receiving the last rites, mum still battled on determined to see relatives coming from overseas and to be with her children at Christmas: Marianthe lived life fully and enjoyed each day. She loved life and wanted to continue enjoying time with those that she loved.

Marianthe was known for her warmth, her vibrant zest for living, and for her hospitality. When her children were at school, all their friends would come to her home and the Cookie Jar would come out, the Chocolate Jar, the Mintie Jar and cool drinks. Hartley Street, Camp Hill, became a popular place with all the school children. This hospitality and generosity was evident in the hospital and nursing home as Marianthe still kept chocolates and biscuits next to her bed to give to visitors and nurses.

Marianthe Syrmis was a keen gardener and successfully grew vegetables, flowers and fruit trees. She had a green thumb and whatever she planted grew. Six months ago she was active in her garden and was looking forward to getting out of the hospital and returning to it. She asked how her lemon trees and vegetables were and reminded her daughter to water and fertilise them. Each day she would cut flowers from her garden to ensure there were fresh flowers in the house.

Her family and friends will always remember her capacity for communication, the little philosophical sayings, the folk lore, the words of wisdom, all stemming from the richness of herself and her culture. Marianthe Syrmis was also a quietly devout Christian. Her son, Constantine crafted an iconclast to display the many icons that she had collected over the years. Marianthe prayed often to assist her through her day. When in palliative care, Marianthe prayed daily with Sister Mary Grace and before and after prayers hugs and kisses were exchanged. The greatest legacy Marianthe Syrmis has left is the legacy of love . Her children believe there is no greater gift than this. Marianthe Syrmis will always be remembered as a gracious, loving human being.

We thank her for her generosity, we thank her for her fierce and undying love for her children. We thank her spirituality and inspiration. But above all we hope we all can match her humanity.
“One word frees us all of the weight and pain of life. That word is love”
Sophocles

The Ithacan Philanthropic Society, Melbourne was saddened to learn of the passing of Marianthe Syrmis and extends sincere condolences to her children Dionysios (Denis), Paraskevi (Voula), Kostadinos (Con) and their families.

ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΑ ΛΑΓΙΑ

Απεβίωσε στην Μελβούρνη στις 7 Φεβρουαρίου 2008 η σεβαστή κυρία Δέσποινα Λάγια το γένος Παίζη, από το Κιόνι Ιθάκης. Εκηδεύθη εκ του Ιερού Ναού Αγίων Αναργύρων Oakleigh παρουσία συγγενών και φίλων.
Στον σύζυγο Ελευθέριο, τέκνα Ιωάννη-Ελένη, Σπύρο και λοιπούς συγγενείς
Θερμά συλλυπητήρια.

PETER BARLOW

Θερμά συλλυπητήρια, στην κυρία Olivia Barlow [το γένος Κομνηνού από Βαθύ Ιθάκης, διά τον θάνατο του αγαπημένου συζύγου της Peter Barlow που απεβίωσε πρόσφατα στο Σίδνευ.

ΟΛΓΑ ΑΛΕΞΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ

Θερμά συλλυπητήρια, στους Γιάννη Αλεξόπουλο και συζυγό του Νίκη, το γένος Καραντζή και οικογενειά τους, διά τον θάνατο της αγαπητής μητέρας και γιαγιάς, Όλγας Αλεξοπούλου ετών 77 καταγωγή από το Ιράν πού απεβίωσε στις 6 Ιανουρίου 2008 στη Μελβούρνη.