Tom Spiro Harbilas was born on October 28, 1930 in Davias, Tripoli Greece.  Tom passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in La Mirada, California on January 11, 2016.

Tom was born to Spiro and Dena Harbilas of Davias, Tripoli.  He went to school in Tripoli and then enlisted in the Greek military where he became a meteorologist.  He was one of a small handful of military personnel who forecasted the weather in the 1950's.

That was not to be his calling -  Tom wanted to leave Greece for a better life.  He applied for citizenship to Canada, the United States, and Brazil and he said whichever country accepted him first would be the country he would emigrate to.  So that's how he came to the United States.  Tom was sponsored by his Theo Peter and Thea Amalia Harbilas and came to Los Angeles.  He soon entered the restaurant business and was an active member of Saint Sophia Cathedral and was a member of their dance group The Young Hellenes.

Tom met the first love of his life, Irene Provos, at an English language school in Lemmert Park.  They would go out for pie and coffee after their language lessons.  Love blossomed and they were married in July of 1958.  They opened their first business, Tom's Burgers in East Los Angeles.  Soon thereafter came their first daughter, Dena and then they were blessed with a second daughter Katina.  Tom raised his family in Monterey Park.

In the 1970's, Tom and Irene decided to move to Montebello and opened Tom's Burgers of Montebello.  The first table at Tom's Burgers was always reserved for the regulars who showed up for coffee every morning to discuss the world's problems.

Meanwhile, Tom's daughters married.   Dena married Gus Mavritsakis and they gave Tom three grandsons:  George, Tommy and Nicholas.  Katina married Matthew Gase and they also gave Tom three grandchildren:  Sophia, Jacqueline and Eugene.  His grandchildren were his pride and joy.

Tom and Irene had the wonderful opportunity to travel around the world.  They went to Greece, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Canada.  Tom had such a tremendous sense of adventure and was always eager to see new places and explore new experiences.  Irene passed away in 2000 and Tom was devastated.

Tom then met the second love of his life, Aristea Pappas, at a Saint John the Baptist VIP trip to Laughlin, Nevada.  Tom courted Aristea and they were married in May 2004.  The marriage gave Tom two more sons and daughter-in-laws:  Pano and Sperry Pappas and Jimmy and the late Leila Pappas.  And there were more grandchildren:  Daria, Taia, Gregory and Michael.  Tom's life was blessed.

Tom's two brothers include, John Harbilas and his late wife Christina and the late Christos Harbilas and his surviving wife Irene Harbilas.  He has two nephews Costa (Lisa) Harbilas, Spiro (Ruth) Harbilas and one niece, Stacy (Phillip) Knapp.

Tom's family was his hobby.  He cherished the time he spent with his children and grandchildren.  He will forever be known for his kindness, sense of humor, honesty and sincerity.  He was always ready to have "parea" at the house.  He was a gentle giant and will be sorely missed by his family.

Tom is survived by his wife Aristea, daughters Dena (Gus) Mavritsakis and Katina (Matthew) Gase, and their grandchildren.

Trisagion will be at 7 pm on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 405 N. Dale Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801.  Funeral services are on his Nameday - at 10:30 am on Monday, January 18, 2016, also at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. Makaria will follow the service and interment thereafter at Rose Hills Cemetery Memorial Park.

The family requests donations to Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in lieu of flowers.

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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