Georgia Lialios (née Tsiamis), a well-respected member of Melbourne’s Greek Australian community, passed away recently at the age of 90.
A woman known for her contribution to civic life, Georgia not only planned her final farewell but also wrote her own obituary to be published in Neos Kosmos—a moving act that reflects the depth of her thought and spirit.
Before her passing, Georgia made the decision to donate her body to the Department of Anatomy at Griffith University in Queensland for medical research. In doing so, she continued a life of service by choosing to help others, even in death.
Born in 1935 in the mountainous village of Zigovisti, in the region of Gortynia, Georgia described her birth as “a coincidence”, as her parents—both Northern Epirots—were temporarily living there due to the nature of her grandfather’s and father’s work.
She migrated to Australia in 1957 and a year later married fellow Epirot, Vasilis Lialios, from Drymades Pogoniou. Together, they raised two children. Vasilis sadly passed away in 1995 at the age of 66.
In her obituary, Georgia explained her decision to forego a traditional funeral, having long planned to donate her body to science:
“I made this decision so I could still be useful to my fellow human beings.”
In a heartfelt farewell, she expressed her love and gratitude to her children, Mary and Christos, her grandchildren, Vaia and Jeremy, and her great-grandson, Remy. She also acknowledged the families of her late brother Panagiotis and her sister Nina, as well as her cousins Alexandra and Tasos.
Georgia went on to thank her close friends—many of whom stood by her for over three or four decades. Among them were Matina and Alekos, Patra and Giorgos, Toula and Notis, Dina, Stasa and Vagelis, Maria and Reno, and her cousins Tasos and Alexandra Salti. She also offered her love to Vera and the family of her late friend Frosso Patista on the Gold Coast.
She left the final judgment of her life’s impact to those who knew and worked with her.
Read her own obituary in below:
“I was born—by coincidence—in a small mountainous village, Zygovisti in Gortynia, in 1935, to parents from Northern Epirus. My ancestry traces back, generation after generation, to Northern Epirus, due to the professional work of both my grandfather and my father.
In 1957, I migrated to Australia. In 1958, I married Vasilis Lialios, also an Epirote, from Drymades in Pogoni. Together, we raised our two children. Vasilis fell ill and passed away in 1995 at the age of 66. For years now (since 2012), I had decided not to have a traditional funeral, because I had donated my body to the Department of Anatomy at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Queensland. I made this decision in order to be of use to my fellow human beings.
In this moment, I would like to publicly express my deep love for my children, Maria (Mary) and Christos, my grandchildren Vaia and Jeremy, and my great-grandson, Remy. I also offer my final farewell to the family of my brother Panagiotis and the family of my sister Nina, as well as to my cousins Alexandra and Tasos.
I would especially like to say a final goodbye and a heartfelt thank you to the following friends who honoured me with their selfless love and friendship for over 30–40 years, and who stood by me through both good and difficult times in my life: Matina and Alekos, Patra and Giorgos, Toula and Notis, Ntina, Stasa and Vaggelis, Maria and Reno, and my cousins Tasos and Alexandra Salti. And on the Gold Coast, Vera and the family of my dear friend Frosso Patista.
I kindly ask them not to weep for me. The circle of my life has come to a close after a deeply intense and creative journey. My life was a voyage full of struggle, and I, too, was able to add my small stone to the foundation of human rights for others…
Whether I succeeded or not, I leave to those who knew me and worked alongside me—to judge or to critique.
One final, tight embrace and much love to all my beloved ones—my family and friends.
Georgia Lialios – Tsiami.”
