Vasiliki Gizas passed away at home on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at the age of 87. She is survived by her four children Maria, Sia, Alexia, and Aleco; her sons-in-law Jimmy and Julian; her daughter-in-law Lauren; her grandchildren Christina, Valerie, Sophia, George, Nicoleta, Vasiliki, Dimitri, Krystina, Angeliki, Nicoletta, Alex, and Leo; her step-grandaughters Ashleigh and Taylor; and her great-grandchildren Maria, Katherine, Alexis, Joseph, Kosta, Sia, and Vasili. She was pre-deceased by her late husband Argyrios Gizas.

Born Vasiliki Markoutsa in Amaliada, Greece on New Year's Day 1929, she was orphaned at a young age and subsequently raised by various family members. As a young woman she moved to Athens where she supported herself as a seamstress. It's there that she met and married her husband Argyrios, and where they had their four children. Soon after having her first two daughters she studied and earned a diploma in pattern making, sewing, and fashion design. In 1966 the family immigrated to the United States to join relatives. They settled in Las Vegas, NV, the place Vasiliki and Argyrios would call home for the next 40 years, and where they would go on to raise and support their children, and eventually their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In recent years Vasiliki re-settled in California to be close with her family.

Vasiliki was a woman of great passion, strength, and wit. She was blessed with infinite resourcefulness, and took great pleasure in the creations of her hands, from her many garments, to her bountiful and award-winning gardens, to the bread she kneaded and baked for her loved ones. She enjoyed many pleasures in life, including taking her family to the casino and a good swim and tan on a sunny day, and she will be remembered fondly for her clever turns of phrase and endless supply of witticisms. Vasiliki was comforted always by her deep faith, and by the belief that she was truly blessed with the greatest riches of family and love. She will continue to serve as a role model of boundless love and unbreakable strength to all her grandchildren. May her memory be eternal. Trisagion service will be Friday, February 26, 2016, at 7:00pm, Funeral Service will be Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 10:00am, both held at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 788 No. Rosemead Blvd. Pasadena, CA. Interment to follow, Rose Hills Memorial Park. Email condolences to www.ChapmanFuneralDirectors.com.