Helen (Eleni) Fragiskou Sparangis was born in Athens, Greece, to Iakovos Fragiskos and Anastasia Fatsi. She was born on June 11, 1939. She had three older half-siblings and one younger brother. While working at a textile plant she met and eventually married Spyro Sparangis in Athens, Greece, on March 8, 1959.

Looking for a better life, one year later, on March 7, 1960 they left war torn and economically depressed Greece for Canada to join her sister-in-law, Rena and her brother-in-law, Stelios. Helen gave birth to their one and only child, Themistocles (Themy) Sparangis on June 11, 1962 in Lindsey, Ontario, Canada. They lived in Canada until 1968, when a series textile factory closures forced them to look for opportunity elsewhere. Spyro, Helen, and Themy left Canada to join Helen's brother-in-law his family in Southern California. They bought a house in Canoga Park (now West Hills) and Helen restarted her life over by learning a new trade as a tailor. She started working at H&H Cleaners as a seamstress in the early 1970s. A few years later she found employment as a tailor at Cesar Romero Clothiers, which was purchased by C&R Clothiers and then eventually was merged with the Men's Warehouse. In her capacity as a tailor she met celebrities like Cesar Romero (actor famous for playing the joker in the original Batman TV series), Annette Funicello (actress famous for the beach party movies of the 1960s), and Christopher Nance (NBC Weatherman).

In 1999, Spyro and Helen left Southern California for Las Vegas, Nevada. Helen continued her employment at the Men's Warehouse in Las Vegas until she retired in the mid-2000s and was honored as employee-of-the-year giving her an all-expense paid cruise for two to Alaska. She lost her husband on September 1, 2017. She passed away on February 27, 2018, less than six months after the passing of her husband. She is survived by her son, Themy, daughter-in-law, Christine, and granddaughter, Helene (Eleni).

Funeral service at 11am on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, 10830 Downey Avenue, Downey, CA 90241. Makaria (mercy meal) to follow the funeral service. Interment at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA.

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