A faithful servant of Christ, beloved mother, yiayia and great grandmother, Eleni Gasparis Christodoulelis was an exceptional soul who personified the best of the greatest generation devoted to her family and faith.

She passed away peacefully on December 29, 2025 in Mitilini, Greece. She was born on March 20, 1928 in Isternia, Tinos to Nicholaos Gasparis and Anastasia Stilianidou who was a refugee from Bursa, Turkey. She and her three brothers Simon, Yianni and Georgo experienced much hardship and famine. She lived through the Great Depression, WWII and the Greek civil war. She learned life skills of appreciation, perseverance, hard work, humility and devotion to family that embodied her entire life.

She came to Mitilini at an early age and was raised by her aunt Amalia and uncle Jimmy Giannarou who didn't have any children of their own. She excelled in swimming, gymnastics and academics. When her uncle and aunt had to pull her out of school during the civil war, her headmaster lamented "stopping her education wasn't just immoral it was criminal". Her dream to become a doctor was shattered.

In 1946 she met the love of her life Eleftherios Christodoulelis. She married him soon afterwards on the banks of the Blue Nile River in Sudan. Lefteri was a merchant who dealt in commodities with local farmers and traders. It was a very hard life but she was comforted by her faith and the love for her family as well as the local Greek expatriated community. Political unrest forced them to hastily flee with their two sons Charlie "Efstratios" and Jimmy "Dimitri" to the safer shores of America. They were sponsored in 1966 by her brother in law Jimmy Doulos of Jimmy's Harborside restaurant fame and immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts.

She very much appreciated her new home in America and raised her two sons in a strong religious environment. Her Orthodoxy empowered her fervent faith. Even though she was handicapped due to a knee injury at the age of 42 she always had a radiant smile and boundless energy baking the best desserts, decorating her beautiful Easter eggs and cooking her special Greek dishes. When she wasn't in the kitchen she was knitting heirlooms for her grandchildren or constantly reading religious books and her "Ευαγγέλιο". So great was her love that she would even share her recipes with other Greek ladies.

After her beloved husband passed away, heartbroken she moved to Pasadena in 1996 to rejoin her children and grandchildren. She was a faithful member of St Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, the Ladies Philoptochos and the senior VIP group where she continued making lasting friendships. Her talents were many but her warm radiant smile and genuine kindness were her most endearing attributes. She never spoke poorly nor a bad word about anyone and was loved by all.

She traveled every year to Greece to visit her friends and family in Athens and spent her summers at Tarti beach on Lesvos. She passed away peacefully and is buried in the same cemetery as her beloved Eleftheri.

They are together again after 30 years.

She is survived by her sons Charlie (Eva) and Jimmy, as well as her grandchildren Eleni (Matt), Lefteri (Charlotte), Anastasia, Amalia, Sofia, Nick (Amy), Mike (Ami), great grandchildren Lily, Eva, Sanvi, Kiran. She was further blessed to welcome her newest great granddaughter Alexandra two weeks before her passing. She is further survived by many beloved nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Her 40 Day memorial will be held Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 9:45am and her celebration of life will begin at 12:15pm at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107.

In lieu of flowers donations should be made to Saint Anthony Church Building Fund.

Ζωή σε σας - may her memory be eternal.✝️

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