Vasiliki Condas

Vasiliki Condas “Yiayia” 1933-2023

Vasiliki Condas, our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully of natural causes in Salt Lake City on June 13, 2023, at the age of 89.

She was born on December 29, 1933, in the village of Agioi Anargyroi, Sparta, Laconia, Greece to parents Panos Vlahos and Marina Tsoutoura. As a young girl she and all other Greeks at that time endured the hardships and atrocities of the Nazi occupation. The Nazis burned her home and her entire village to the ground and murdered her beloved 14-year-old brother, Epaminondas. She and her family survived the ravages of WWII, and then a subsequent devastating Greek Civil war from 1946-1949. That entire generation of Greeks endured unimaginable horrors yet became icons of strength, perseverance, and resolve. Vasiliki was a pillar of physical and mental strength, discipline, and honor, embodying the essence of a true Spartan. Even with the horrors of war she would still revel in the wonderful times spent with her family and friends growing up in the countryside. She would joyfully reminisce about the wonderful traditions of her Orthodox faith and Greek culture.

After the wars her family sent her to the city of Sparta to continue her education. She learned to be fiercely independent from an early age. As a young, single woman she established herself as a professional, with a career in the Greek military, working for many years at the K.E.E.M military base in Laconia. She built her own home and created her own career which was rare at that time for a young woman. She was driven, focused, and generous, saving and sending money to the rest of her family.

In 1969 a mutual friend introduced her to our father, George J. Condas, who was visiting Greece. Specifically, George had come to Greece to help establish public works for the city of Sparta, his own mother’s hometown. It was love at first sight. As George and Vasiliki liked to say, ‘we met on a Monday and got married the following Thursday’. Their 11-day courtship led to a lifetime of happiness with a wonderful 35-year marriage until George passed away in 2004. After the wedding Vasiliki and George moved to Salt Lake City to begin their new life together. Their only child, Marina, was their pride and joy. Vasiliki was proud to become an American citizen and was forever grateful for the opportunities the U.S. offered.

With their daughter in tow, George and Vasiliki made numerous trips back to Europe and to Greece in particular to visit their respective families. They maintained their tight cultural and religious ties to Greece and instilled their Philhellenism to their daughter and grandchildren. Vasiliki embraced her new life in the US by taking night classes to learn English, learning how to drive, and integrating herself into community service. She was even sweet-talked, or perhaps cattle-prodded, into hosting the most peculiar of events, an American TupperWare party, which she did with grace, much to her bewilderment and dismay. She became very involved within the Greek community of Salt Lake by becoming a member of A.H.E.P.A., the Daughters of Penelope, and Philoptochos, and helping with the annual Greek Festival and Paschal celebrations. She and George donated to the building of Prophet Elias-Greek Orthodox church, the maintenance of Holy Trinity Cathedral, and other charitable endeavors within the community at large.

Vasiliki and George were the consummate hosts and were known for their Filoxenia, (translated to ‘Hospitality and friendship to strangers’). They both had a love of people and parea and would host many parties in their beloved Park City mountain home and Salt Lake home. They also loved hosting their annual St. Basil’s day party, in honor of Vasiliki’s patron saint, Saint Basil, celebrated on January 1. Vasiliki also enjoyed hosting her annual Kathari Deftera (Clean Monday) tea parties to welcome in the beginning of Lent. Vasiliki was very gracious, hospitable, and social.

She loved quoting many Greek proverbs, and lived by them as well. She was a dedicated member of the Greek Orthodox community and loved her Orthodox faith. A pious woman, she was forever grateful to God for his blessings and lived an exemplary Orthodox life. She instilled her faith and values to all her family.

Vasiliki is survived by her daughter, Marina, her son-in-law, Anthony “Tony” Gianoulis, and her adoring grandchildren, Giorgio, and Katerina, and her sympethera, Katherine Gianoulis. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews whom she thought of as her own children, and her sisters Yiannoula, and Eleni, all in Greece. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband George, her parents, infant brother and sister, Yanni and Politimi, and her dear brother, Epaminondas, also her sympethero, George Gianoulis. 

Alas, we salute you dear Vasiliki, for a life well lived. Thank you for being our guiding light, teacher, and role model for us all.

Καλό παράδεισο μανουλα μου

ΑΙΩΝΙΑ ΣΟΥ Η ΜΝΗΜΗ

Viewing to be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, on Friday evening, June 16, 6:00-8:00 PM with a Trisagion at 7:00 PM. Funeral service will be Saturday June 17, at 11:00 AM, also at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 1342 East 500 South, Salt Lake City. Following interment, the family will host a makaria at Holy Trinity Cathedral Social Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Cornerstone Campaign, 279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; or, www.gocslc.org to continue the legacy of her beloved Greek Orthodox community.