Rodoulla Loizides, wife for 55 years of restaurateur George Loizides, passed away on Monday, October 21, 2019 surrounded by her family. She passed away at the age of 77, just six days after her husband.

Rodoulla Panayides was born September 29, 1942, in Kathikas, a small Greek village on the island of Cyprus; her first name means rose in Greek. She and George Loizides, who was seven years older, were next door neighbors.

She was 17 when George Loizides asked her to marry him, but her parents told them no, saying she was too young. Two years later, on May 17, 1964, they wed in Bulawayo, a city in the country of Zimbabwe, previously known as Rhodesia. They lived in the middle of a jungle where they could hear lions clawing on their house. Her husband loved that lifestyle and big-game hunting.

They had three children: Jimmy, born in 1965; Rip, born in 1966; and Nicky, born in 1969. They had moved from the jungle back to Bulewayo, but George's job in a general store was 200 miles away. Those were extremely hard times for Rodou raising three children.

When civil turmoil engulfed Zimbabwe, the government confiscated the Loizides' property, leaving them with $500 in cash. The Loizides took their children, ages 15, 14 and 10, and immigrated to the United States, finally settling in Long Beach, California.

George took up different low-paying jobs to make ends meet. Rodoullo, a great cook, started taking night classes in English at Wilson High School and working in the Wilson cafeteria as a cook. She had that job for 30 years. Those were difficult years for the Loizides family, but the couple always said, "If we worked hard as a family, we would survive and be successful."

Their fortunes started turning around when the family opened George's Greek Deli on Pine Avenue near Third Street, in Long Beach. Rodoulla and eldest son Jimmy Loizides did all the cooking. Daughter Nicky Loizides Clair helped wherever she could. Her husband George began his legendary career as the "Smiling Greeter of Pine Avenue." Rodoulla, also known as Mama Rodou and Dora, was the matriarch of George's Greek Cafe.

The business grew and, in 2008, they moved the restaurant to 135 Pine Avemue, and renamed it George's Greek Cafe. They eventually opened other restaurants in Belmont Shore and Lakewood. Many of the Greek dishes like spanakopita, baklava, pastitsio, dolmathes and moussaka came from Mama Rodou's recipes.

She was only 5'2" tall, but she was such a force when it came to the kitchen and cooking dishes for customers. She ruled the kitchen staff with an iron fist. The kitchen and the food had to be spotless. The staff were more concerned with her, than the Health Department.

She and her husband George had a great marriage. They loved each other so much and lived for each other. She was a rock in everything the family did, and held everything together.

She had been on oxygen for a few years because of lung problems. Since the recent passing of her husband George just the week before, it was said she died from a broken heart.

City leaders were mourning the loss as well, commenting that they were a great couple. Rodou's daughter Nicky Loizides Clair said her mother told her that she was ready to go. "I am finished here. I am ready to be with my Georgie." Last week, just after George Loizides died, Rodou told her daughter, "I am not going to survive much longer past my husband, not because I am sick but because I am losing the man I love."

Rodoulla Loizides is survived by her children, sons Jimmy and Rip Loizides, and daughter Nicky Loizides Clair; and five grandchildren, George and Marshall Loizides, Lauren Loizides, and Dori and Gia Clair.

Trisagion will be Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 7pm. Funeral service will be Monday, October 28, 2019 at 11am. Both services will be held at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, California. Interment to follow at Westminster Memorial Park. A public celebration of life for both George and Rodou will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2019 at George's Greek Cafe, 135 Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802.

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

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

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