Yiayia Alexandra was born on the 13 January 1929 in Drama, Greece and passed away on 9 August 2022.
With her three siblings they lived through hard times as the devastating global war ravaged Greece and the vast majority of the world’s countries.
This ‘silent generation’ endured a country with its economy and infrastructure in total ruin, suffered heavy casualties and sustained terrible hardships. During those tumultuous younger years yiayia Alexandra never lost sight of her humanitarian beliefs and family values.
As an 11-year-old the world looked grim with very little future prospects.
Yiayia Alexandra survived and endured those early childhood years that robbed her of a fundamental and structured education. That traumatic period left her with emotional scares that moulded her character and left her searching for higher priorities in life. Preservation of existence took precedence well before learning to read, write and gaining knowledge. Her brief and limited educational exposure was now dwarfed by her exuberance, grasp and understanding of life, society and humanity during her adult years.
The ever popular ship, Patris, brought her to Australia in 1964 where she lived in Richmond with her husband and son and became accustomed to the Australian lifestyle that was in contrast to her Greek cultural background. Any differences in ideology became secondary as the family adapted and assimilated into the routines of life in Glen Waverly from 1975 until the present day.
There is not a living soul on this earth that has ever uttered a negative word about yiayia Alexandra. That is not a small achievement to maintain for 93 years. Her scholastic achievements were earnt by finding ways to serve others and ensuring there is peace and harmony on this earth. Her final accreditations and accolades were deservedly bestowed upon her by all who knew her.
One word totally sums up yiayia Alexandra’s life and that is, devotion.
To expand a lifetime of energy towards a devoted cause or lifestyle requires endurance of faith and total commitment. With an abundance of love, passion and loyalty, yiayia Alexandra had spades of all the elements of extreme devotion.
With her strong set of unwavering core life values the word ‘never’ also comes to mind when expressing and articulating yiayia Alexandra’s life. As a simple word ‘never’ is very definitive and absolute. Characteristically yiayia Alexandra was never loud, never overbearing, never opinionated and never aggressive. She was always calm, forgiving, reassuring and trusting towards others.
Her greatness lied in her natural ability to project her unforgettable persona in her mannerisms, deeds and compassion; she added enrichment, comfort and love to other people’s lives in abundance. She provided a shoulder to cry on during bitter discomfort, an ear to listen to through heart wrenching stories and when appropriate offered advice from her own experiences. Never judgmental, always in trust and constantly available for others.
Yiayia Alexandra was living independently in her own home for over eight years, following the loss of her devoted husband, Manoli. Her quaint, charming and spotlessly kept home was affectionately called ‘to spitaki mou’. Visiting carers would have a wonderful time as yiayia Alexandra made Greek coffee and served them with almost a role reversal.
The wonders of nature were all on display in yiayia Alexandra’s garden for all to admire. At 93 she watched the world parade past her large bright, sunny, north facing lounge window with her views interrupted only by the spectacularly beautiful magnolia tree. The over sprawling blooming magnolia covered with large, bright and scented flowers signalled the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Her vices and pleasures in life were minimalist at best. Except, for a rare occasional sip of her favourite nectar…ouzo, which she enthusiastically and profusely denied was nothing more than for ‘medicinal purposes to sooth her aching tooth’.
Even in her last few months in hospital she inspired the treating doctors. They untiringly and diligently found ways to ensure this ‘lovely and loving’ patient received all the care and attention she deserved. Her strength and tenacity for life surpassed any prognosis and diagnostic outcomes.
Yiayia Alexandra was the characteristic ever nurturing mother. Even when she was unable to eat during her last days in hospital her main concern was that her son was well fed and looked after. She was also saddened during her last month that our earth was in such a vulnerable stage as she witnessing drought, fires and lately the Sydney floods. As she lay in her hospital bed all that she focused on was ‘Oh my God, I wish we can help those people during their enormous hour of need’ and then continued ‘we must see our great-grandchildren inherit a safe place to live’. She was gently reassured as her son promised to do his utmost best for the people in need and to safeguard our earth from destruction.
When she was in a conscious state her last words were “mehri eki pou pai” or “until the end of the road” as she clasped her fingers and made the sign of the cross. Until that end she was in her son’s embrace and gently holding on until she inhaled her last gasp of air. Not only was she a biological mother but she was also a surrogate mother, who would stand-in, backup or substitute for what the occasion required. She lived her 93-year life to see her child marry and have two children. She saw two great-grandchildren enter this world surrounded with love, affection and caring admiration.
She was truly a ‘Third Yiayia’.
During times of need, despair or sorrow yiayia Alexandra was a rock. She left this world with a gigantic stature and as a significant role model for us all. This bright light could not be easily extinguished nor forgotten.
Rest in peace Manoula.
