Our beloved Efstathia Spiropoulos was born 10th June 1920 in the midst of the Turkish Greco War of Asia Minor. She was born in a little village called Flessiada outside Kalamata in the Peloponnese. Her parents were Anastasios and Athena Angelopoulos. Efstathia is the second child of six siblings. She had an Older sister Panagiota, three brothers, Adonis, Georgos and Niko and a younger sister Arsinoi 13 years her junior and the only surviving member.
Efstathia grew up in difficult times in the 20’s and all she can remember of her childhood is working the land to have food on the table. Greece was at war continuously for ten years before she was born and war continued until 1922. Times were hard and the land that was neglected for so long was difficult to cultivate so everyone had to work together to make ends meet.
Just as they recovered from the aftermath of war, The Great Depression hit Greece. Her father lost his life savings overnight. Once again, they faced difficult times and needed to work hard to survive. Efstathia went to school and she loved it and excelled, however she had to stop in order to help the family. She often said they were lucky, they were landowners and always had food to eat but others were starving. Her mum always kept a plate of food for someone who was hungry. All through her childhood and teenage years she had to care for the livestock, help in the vineyard, the olive grove, make cheese, cure olives, tend to the vegetable garden, shear the sheep, spin the wool, make sheets and blankets on the loom, look after her young siblings and grandparents. The work was never-ending but they were happy.
Just after the Great Depression World War Two started. Another war that was lived and survived. She was only 19 years old when the Germans invaded her village. All food supply was taken and everyday was one of survival. Together with her older sister their priority was to protect their young siblings taking them to safety in the mountains. From the high vantage point, they witnessed the neighbouring village burnt to the ground.
World War Two ended but then the Greek Civil War erupted. From December !944 until 1949 five long years, brother fought against brother, communism against democracy. This devastating conflict would shatter Greece even further. Efstathia was now 24 years old. There was no going out for drinks or going to the movies for her.
In 1946 Efstathia fell in love with Peter Spiropoulos and not wanting to wait for the war to finish, they eloped and got married straight away. Within a year her first son Paul was born. They were blissfully happy but within six weeks Peter was called to fight in the war. He was away for four long years and Efstathia worked tiresly to care for her son. When dad returned home he was amazed at what he saw. When he left the cupboards were almost bare and now they were filled to the brim with all the essentials – flour, rice, coffee, lentils, beans etc No one can work as hard as Efstahia Spiropoulos.
Efstathia had another six children all at home, without a doctor, only a local woman to help. Efstathias has 7 children, first two sons – Paul and Kosta, then four daughters in a row, Anna, Athena, Georgina and Stavroula and her youngest child, son Anastasios.
Finally, in the 1950’s there was peace. No more wars. Efstathia and Peter worked hard to support their large family. Her children were sheltered from the hardships and had the best childhood memories. They remember the family huddled around the fireplace on cold winter nights with mum telling them stories. You could hear the wind whistling outside and they were cosy and warm. They said they didn’t have many toys but who needs toys when you have nature as your playground.
Efstathia and Peter wanted a better life for their children. Her brother George, who had migrated to Australia in 1954, sponsored them to come to The Lucky Country Down Under. So, in September 1964 they uprooted their entire family to make the long journey to Australia on the ship PATRIS. They arrived at Station Pier Port Melbourne on October 1964. The courage bringing her whole family, without a word of English is remarkable. The oldest child being 17 and the youngest 18 months old.
Everything was difficult at first but very quickly they adjusted, worked hard and prospered. Peter soon got a job in Ford Motor Company and Efstathia in the tile factory in Coburg. They worked hard and the following year bought a house in the new estate of Fawkner. It is in this house she lived for the next 60 years. The house had a big back yard and soon it was filled with fruit trees and the most magnificent vegetables garden. Efstathia loved Fawkner. She would say it was the best suburb in Australia, close to school, to the shops but most importantly to our Greek Orthodox church Agios Nektarios. She had great neighbours who became like family. The Ward family on one side and the Italian family the Iera’s on the other. They shared food over fences and celebrated together. Efstathia loved Australia and she called it paradise on Earth.
Efstathia worked really hard in the factories. She was so grateful for her opportunity to work. Efstathia worked like her life depended on it. There was no such thing as slow and steady. The bosses could see that she was doing the work of two people and would give her an extra pay packet at the end of the week. Her work ethic was astounding.
Within five years in Australia Effie and Peter opened their own business in Gaffney Street Coburg. Effie ran the Milk Bar and dad the coffee shop next door. They were fearless and tenacious in their determination to succeed displaying great courage to provide for their children. With minimal English they were able to work and flourish.
These were happy times. Their house in Fawkner was filled with visitors, Efstathia would feed everyone and to this day they talk about her amazing hospitality and delicious cuisine. She was renowned for the best diples and kourabiethes in the world. She was so generous, caring and kind. You felt loved. Her warm nature and effervescent smile lit up the room. She was humble and grateful for everything.
Soon her children got married and moved to more affluent places in Melbourne but Fawkner is always home and Efstathia was the heart that draws them back. The grandchildren came and her house was filled with laughter. Festivities were the norm, weddings, christenings, birthdays, Easter and Christmas celebration all there and with Efstathia at the core of everything. Food cooked, house cleaned, everything catered for and never once complaining that she is tired.
A remarkable woman having lived an amazing life. She made many trips to Greece and back. When she was 93 years old she went to Jerusalem and to Paris. When she was 96 she went to America to visit her granddaughter Efstathia in California then to Chicago where her father had visited long ago. When she was 102 she got COVID. She was unvaccinated and we thought we lost her but she is a survivor. We were blessed to have her for another two years.
Towards the end, at the age of 104, Efstathia was very tired and on Monday 15th July she just didn’t wake up and died peacefully in her bed in Fawkner the following morning Tuesday 16th July 2024.
Efstathia has been blessed with seven children, 22 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. She is our matriarch and she will be sorely missed. But we rest in the knowledge that a part of her, lives in each and every one of us. May her memory be eternal. Rest in peace beautiful darling Efstathia. You have touched so many hearts with your kindness and generous nature and you are loved by ALL.
Rest in Peace my beautiful darling mother/grandmother/great grandmother. May your memory be eternal. You are much loved and will be greatly missed.
