Stylianos (Stelios) Ioannis Vasileiou (September 23, 1948 – June 9, 2020)

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Stelios Ioannis Vasileiou of Grande Prairie, AB. Stelios passed away, with family by his side, at the QEII Hospital on June 9, 2020, at 71 years old.

Stelios was born in Chrysovergeion, Greece, on September 23, 1948, during the Greek civil war which followed WWII. He was raised in the mountainous village of Voutiro, until he moved to the nearby town of Karpenisi to study to become an electrician. From there he moved to Athens in his later teens to begin work in the restaurant industry. Shortly thereafter, he was conscripted to the Greek military for two years of mandatory service. After serving, Stelios continued working as a waiter in Athens, and eventually moved to Agios Nikolaos, a town on the island of Crete, where he remained for 15 years. Here, Stelios made lifelong friends and met his future wife. Stelios immigrated to Canada in 1983 where he married Carolyn (Hill) and started a family. After living in Victoria, B.C., and Edmonton, AB, for several years, they moved to Grande Prairie in 1993 to start Acropolis Greek Restaurant & Pub, which had always been a dream for Stelios. He owned and operated the Acropolis until he retired in 2015.

Stelios had an immense passion for sports, geography and traveling. He was a self-proclaimed “sports freak,” and particularly enjoyed watching golf, soccer, tennis, and hockey. Over the course of his life, he traveled to many countries, such as Kenya, China, Thailand, the United States, and numerous European countries. His favorite places in Greece were Voutiro and Agios Nikolaos, both of which he visited whenever he had the chance. Stelios was also very passionate about the restaurant industry and Greek food. He was an excellent restauranteur with high standards for cleanliness, service, and food quality. He was personable, hospitable and generous; he loved to make people feel special. He took a keen interest in his guests, sought to establish strong and long-standing relationships, while providing a unique dining experience. Stelios was especially known for his sense of humor, his love of Greece, warm smile, and boisterous laugh. He was a great athlete and singer, and many will remember his infamous singing of “Happy Birthday” at the Acropolis, which could be heard throughout the entire restaurant and possibly from the street.

In addition to his family members, Stelios had many valued friends whom he considered family. He loved to host dinners in his home where he would cook for his guests while exchanging stories of Greece, philosophy, and world affairs. Stelios was a one-of-a-kind man and was loved by so many. He had a personality that lit up every room, and was genuinely interested in others. He is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed.

Left to mourn are his daughters Theodora and Christina; son Dionysios; their mother Carolyn; and in Greece, brother Socrates (Zoe); sister Vasiliki; nephew Ioannis (Ioanna) and their children; and nephew Konstantinos (Eirini) and their children.

Stelios is predeceased by his parents, father Christos and mother Theodora, as well as his birth-parents, father Ioannis and mother Giannoula.

A special thank you to all the nurses and doctors who cared for Stelios over the years.

A private funeral service, due to COVID concerns and restrictions, will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. A livestream of the funeral will be available on the Oliver’s Funeral Home Facebook page for those who are unable to attend the funeral.

Stelios is to be interred at the Grande Prairie City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to World Vision (https://www.worldvision.ca) or to a children’s charity of your choice are gratefully accepted.