George Frousiakis was born on February 2, 1929, in Kapsia, Greece. He is the second son of Georgia and Kostandinos. George and his four brothers and two sisters grew up in a two-bedroom no bathroom home. With only three years of education at age eight, he started to work on the family farm. During this time, George would gather sticks on their donkey to walk the 10 miles to Tripoli to sell them and bring the money back to his father. He would also stay in Tripoli for months, bussing tables and sleeping wherever he could. At around age 19, he entered the Greek army, serving for the military police for two years. He mentioned he loved being in the military and wanted to stay longer because it was much easier than working the farms. Still, family always came first, and he knew they needed him.

In 1955, in his mid-twenties, he and his family came to America. Even though George only had a third-grade education, he learned to read and write both in Greek and English. When it came to numbers, he seemed fast in calculating them without the calculator. They lived in New York, working at his uncle's diner for a few years. From there, they moved to California, where they laid roots and started their careers and families. At this time, he met his wife, Maria, or "Marika" as he would like to call her, at his families' market. It was down the street from where she lived. Shortly after, on June 15, 1958, they were married and had their first two children, Georgia and Kostandina. Sadly, the firstborn, Georgia, passed away at two years old. Over the next few years, three more girls came along, Georgia, Eleni, and Bessie. They raised their four girls in Downey, California, near his parents and most of his siblings.

Fourteen years after their last daughter was born, Marika was pregnant again with their son, Petros. They decided the Downey house was too small with the new addition on the way, so they moved to their forever home in Anaheim Hills. At age 50, with his son born, George decided to quit smoking after almost 40 years. And age 55, George decided to retire and sell his business to watch his last born grow up because he felt he missed out with his older children. George loved family, laughter, and noise at all times, so they built a pool in the backyard. To be with his kids in the pool, without accepting help, he taught himself how to swim at age 55. Being retired, George was able to take Peter to every sports practice and was there for every game. And as his daughters married and had children, he would enjoy attending as many of their games as possible.

Every summer, he would take his family on vacation always to the mountains, Sequoia, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe. He loved to hike and be surrounded by nature with his family, and we think it reminded him of Kapsia. In 2006, he took the whole family to Greece. He was so proud while showing us where their farms are, his home, which they still own, and where he worked in Tripoli. It was the best trip for all of us. George also enjoyed working out, hiking around the reservoir, math games such as Sudoku, hunting, soccer, card games, horse races, fishing, and spending time with family.

George loved being with family more than anything else. In the last few years, we would watch the show Survivor religiously. It was just an excuse to gather together around the TV so George could hear us yell and banter. Then our new family tradition became Wednesday night dinner at Yiayia & Papou's. We would yell, and he would sit and smile to see us all together. A new spark of joy came when Peter & Star had their first child George his namesake, then another grandson Vernon, who brought life back into him. He kept on going to be part of their life too. It was a special moment when Papou was at his eldest of ten grandchildren's wedding this past May. Nothing made him prouder than his family.

On August 15, the day the orthodox church celebrates the resurrection of the Virgin Mary, George passed away. He would tell us a story about when he was a young boy and fell in a well at the farm. He was drowning when suddenly he felt someone pulling his hair and lifting him from the well. He saw a woman he believed to be the Virgin Mary, and then she disappeared. His family believes the Virgin Mary came, wrapped her arms around him, and carried him with her to heaven.

George Frousiakis is survived by: his three siblings Penelope, Voula, and Angelo, five children Kostandina, Georgia, Eleni, Bessie, Peter, and ten grandkids, Nicholas, Georgia, Christopher, Kosta, George, Jimmy, Justin, Jason, George, and Vernon.

Trisagion at 7pm on Sunday, August 22, 2021 and the funeral at 11am on Monday, August 23, 2021, both services held at Saint John Greek Orthodox Church, Anaheim, California. Interment to follow after the Makaria at Rose Hills.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Saint John the Baptist Church, 405 North Dale Street, Anaheim, CA 92801.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Terry & Mary Harmon, Funeral Directors. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

______________________________

Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com .

AmericanObituary.com is a Baywalk Marketing service.

facebook.com/AmericanObituary - twitter.com/AmericaObituary