Obituary of Constantinos "Kosta" Arvanitis

Arvanitis Constantinos "Kosta", Born on April 24th 1930 in Lapi/Kopanaki, Messinias Greece. Constantinos slipped away quietly on April 20th. He was a quiet man, a deep thinker, a romantic. When he had an audience, he loved to talk, he loved to play "tavli" backgammon, and he liked to win. He was a man with a great passion for life. He saw beauty in everything and refused to see life in a negative and hostile way. He avoided people who affected his mental health, and was drawn to people who were happy and laughed easily. He was a lover of nature and landscapes, and he had beautiful images of tropical foliage painted on the walls of our home. There is not a room in our house which he has not touched, or a room that has not touched us with his memory. His fondest memories, were the times he spent surrounded by family, tables filled with good food and drink. We can imagine our father raising a glass of wine to us all, "e-viva"! The festivities begin as laughter and talk and Greek music blend to play out the night. It is no surprise that our father passed in the early hours of this morning, in the time as people are ready to part. Our father is now in his country, amongst the olive trees, with his arms raised and swaying to the music of a zeibekiko, eyes twinkling, he smiles and sets off a lone whistle, taps his shoe and turns away. His wish was us to not mourn him, to not shed tears for him, he wanted his death to be a celebration of his life, not a funeral, He said he wanted to hear laughter as we gather to remember him. We will miss him deeply and for a very long time. He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife Jiannoula (nee) Buzanis, loving children, son George and daughters Joulie Makrostergios, Lemonia "Nitsa" her husband George Gelakis, grandchildren Gabrielle Arvanitis (Devon McKenzie), Kosta Arvanitis, Joanna Makrostergios, Nicholas and Elizabeth Gelakis, great granddaughter Addison McKenzie, brother Andre Arvanitis and his wife Victoria, a sister in Greece Bessy Bousios, her husband Christos, and many nieces, nephews and extended family in Greece. Predeceased by his sister Kalliroi "Kalli" and her husband Gregory Assimacopoulos, his parents George and Lemonia Arvanitis, his son-in-law Kosta Makrostergios and siblings Vasili and Maria, who died during his youth and to whom he recalled often. At eighteen, our father enlisted and became a lieutenant in the mechanical division of the army, and after serving his mandatory 2 years he moved to Athens Greece and became an officer in the police force. In 1958 he sailed to Canada, married and worked as a chef until he and his wife purchased and operated the Acropol Restaurant in Stratford between 1960-1972. In 1970 he moved to Key West Florida and started the Seafood House Restaurant later known as Anglers. During 1976 and 1980 he expanded his restaurants to the Seafood House in Marathon and the Blue Marlin in Fort Myers Florida, He was proud of the home he rebuilt in Stratford Ontario, and alternated his time between his summers in his birthplace in Greece, and his winters in his home in Florida. Due to Covid restrictions, a small and intimate funeral service will be attended by his immediate family and conducted at the Woodland cemetery with Fr. Konstantinos Chatzis officiating. Those wishing to make a donation are asked to consider Ronald McDonald House. Logan Funeral Home (519-433-6181) entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences can be expressed at www.loganfh.ca . Services: Service Location Woodland Cemetery, 493 Springbank Drive, London, Ontario Burial Location Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario Requested Charity Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario, London