January 7, 1925 – December 22, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Mother and Yiayia (grandmother), Stephanie Yerakis, nee Danyluk on Dec 22nd, 16 days short of her 98th birthday.
Stephanie was predeceased by her beloved husband John on December 20, 1972, parents Alexander and Justyna Danyluk, siblings Peter and Hanka Danyluk, Marion and Nick Derry and Anne and Joe Shuper, and son-in-law, Anastasios Antoniou. She is survived by her son Ilarion-George and daughters, Katherine Antoniou and Nicki and husband John Clearwater along with 10 grandchildren: Katerina (Stelios), Stephanie, Michael (Maria), John, Maria (Thodoris), Raeanne (Ryan), Kristin (Quinn), Justyne (Ran), Tyler (Andrea), Alex (Wesley) and 8 great grandchildren, Nicole, Anastasia, Kyriaki, George, Katerina, Kyriaki, Jace, Everly.
Steffie grew up in the heart of the North End. She was very proud of her Ukrainian heritage and enjoyed making perogies and holopchi for her family. She loved to tell stories about how as kids, they used to raid gardens to get potatoes to roast over a fire and how they’d have charcoal all over their face, playing kick the can and getting yelled at by her mother for being a daredevil climbing trees!
Stephanie worked all of her adult life in the food industry, continuing into her 80’s working catering part time. She worked at C.Kelekis Restaurant and then Willie’s where she met the love of her life, John Yerakis. They had a wonderful life working together in their own restaurant, The Denver and their flower shop, Metropolitan Florist Shop. They had a beautiful home on Garfield St where they raised their 3 children. When she married her “Johnny the Greek” she embraced the Greek culture and enthusiastically learned how to cook new dishes from his aunt to continue the traditions of the Greeks of Asia Minor.
After Dad’s passing, Steffie worked various jobs and loved to share her memories of her time at the Carleton Club and Manitoba Club. After retirement, Steffie continued to be a force of nature. Life with her was never a dull moment. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, crafts and cooking and fully embraced being a Yiayia to her grandchildren. She loved to recall stories of the years she babysat all 3 of her Pookie Mookies – Raeanne, Kristin and Justyne.
Steffie lived independently till age 95 and then moved into Nicki and John’s home where she continued to show off her Ukrainian and Greek corners, reminisced about her many friends, fun times and travels to Greece.
Thank you to her homecare nurses, the Family Managed Homecare program and to the amazing and loving staff from OZ Loving Care who took such great care of her in her final year. We are most grateful for the dignity and love you provided her.
Mom/Yiayia, you will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts. May your memory be eternal.
Funeral will be held Tuesday, December 27th at 12:00 noon at St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Ave. Lunch will be served following interment at Chapel Lawn. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
9 thoughts on “Stephanie Yerakis”
Blessed be her memory and may the love in her heart for everyone be the pillar of strength for you in this most difficult and harsh moment in the cycle of life. Αιώνια της η μνήμη . Katherina Adamopoulou – Kalymnos, Greece.
Steffie Thanks for showing me that I shouldn’t be making pierogies! ! You made the best. For teaching me the trick to help get the peels off the hard boiled eggs. Thanks for always sneaking me a load of Domantas and putting it in one of Nicki‘s Tupperware containers when she wasn’t looking ha ha. Thanks for having a safe place for Nicki and I to hang out and bond growing up. Thanks for looking after Nicki and her girls on their new adventure in Regina. Thanks for joining our family for special occasions and family functions. Thanks for allowing John and Nicki to take you in and help you live out your life in your own way. For giving them the chance to really bond with you and get to know you so we’ll. That was a great gift. Thanks for making my best friend. I will miss your saucy nature.
Much much love and prayers to my friends and their families. She will live in our hearts and or memories.
Steffie was a great and kind friend. We loved her dearly. She told Don he needed to feed his grapes Miracle grow to get them big enough for her to use She was one of a kind. Hugs and love. Don and Gaylene Smith in Regina SK
I was sorry to read of your mom’s passing Nicki. Her life sounds so full of family! ❤️
My deepest condolences Nicki and family. Your mom’s legacy will live on…she was a rock star. Hugs
Thinking of you all facing this loss. What a gift to have had her in your life!
Hugs to you all!
My husband and I send our condolences to the Yerakis family. May her memory be eternal.
Steffie was a good friend and neighbour of my family on Garfield Street South. My Great Auntie Eliuk lived across Garfield Street South at Dymtri’s before the Steve Kytaychuk family at 263. My Auntie Josie, Uncle Steve Halitky and cousin Gail as well. She knew them all.
Stephanie was compassionate and thoughtful as my mother was always sick . My father Steve became a good friend of her mother Justyna in the ” Ukrainian Club” on Garfield Street South. Rest, Steffie as you have worked so hard. Rest hard earned. Yerakis family please accept our condolences.
Penny , Barry, Tyrell, Haylea, Jayden & Carter of Stittsville Ontario
Vichya Palamat!
We offer our deepest condolences and prayers for your loss. Stephanie was a determined and hardworking individual with a kind nature and colourful sense of humour that brought many happy moments to mom when they briefly worked together years ago.
Eonia Eimnemi (May her memory be eternal).