Magda (Magdalini) Andranistakis (nee Athanasopoulos)

January 15, 1942 – October 3, 2023 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Magda Andranistakis on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Magda was predeceased by her husband, John. She will be greatly missed by her children, Katina (Mark), Peter (Patrice), Peggy and Helen; grandchildren, Noah, Emma, Jake and Maggie; siblings, Theodoros (Nitsa), Panagioti (Eleni), Giorgo (Elli), Demitri (Georgia), and Vasiliki; and many extended family and friends.

Magda was born on January 15, 1942 in the small mountain village of Akovos in Greece. She was one of six children in a very small house and, like many families in rural Greece at that time, there was little to eat. From a young age, Magda and her siblings were expected to contribute to daily chores and one of her roles was to help her Papou look after the animals.

At 21 years old, Magda arrived in Winnipeg where she married John in 1963 and had four children. John and Magda owned several successful hair salons where she worked alongside John. Magda was a loving mother and was very proud of each of her children. Her four grandchildren brought her immense joy and spending time with each of them was a highlight for her. They fondly remember the special treats and the fun they would have playing with Yiayia in her yard. They all love their Yiayia very much!

Magda was always good at improvising, kind of like a Greek MacGyver. If there was an item that could be reused, she would find a new purpose for it and she amazed her family with her ingenuity. She consistently found solutions to household dilemmas.

Magda had numerous hobbies including sewing, crocheting, knitting and needlepoint, and she would often be found working on her projects. Throughout her life, Magda enjoyed all sorts of crafts and her family loved to receive her handmade gifts. Magda took great pride in her home, keeping it organized and spotless. She loved to cook all types of food and experimented with new recipes clipped from the paper and magazines. Even though every dish she prepared was delicious, her spanakopita was a family favourite.

Even in her later years, Magda was very independent. She had endless energy and physical strength and maintained her home, both indoors and out, shoveling snow from the sidewalks in the winter and tending to all aspects of her garden. Spending time outdoors in her yard brought much happiness. She had a green thumb, growing almost anything in her massive gardens, and her fall bounty was enjoyed by everyone. Daily morning walks with her brother kept her active and they spent many hours visiting and keeping each other company.

The family extends many thanks to her neighbour, James, for his help and kindness. Thank you to the staff at St. Boniface Hospital Palliative Unit for their care and compassion during mom’s two-week stay. Thank you to Father Nick and Father Gregory for their prayers and support.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Ave. Interment to follow the service at Chapel Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

Mom, we will miss your smiling face, your kindness, your guidance, and your ingenuity, but mostly, we will miss you every single day. We love you very much.

May her memory be eternal.