Maria Ziakris

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of our beloved mother and grandmother Maria Ziakris. She suffered a massive heart attack on Thursday, February 5th, and passed away peacefully in Sechelt,BC at 3:30 AM Friday morning in the presence of her children. She was attended by the astonishingly compassionate and capable medical staff of the Sechelt Hospital ER, for which we will be ever grateful.

Maria was born in Megalopolis, Greece, near the heart of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, to parents Achilles and Zoe Boutris. She was the middle child of three and is survived by her younger brother Athanasi (Tom) (Sherylene) Boutris of Pender Harbour and older sister Anastasia (Anna) (Mike) Xilinas of North Vancouver. She emigrated to Canada in 1960, preceded by her sister, initially to work as a housemaid in Toronto. She underwent training to become a hair stylist, a vocation for her that she remained in for the rest of her life.

She followed her sister to North Vancouver and eventually established her own hair salon on Davie Street in Vancouver. She married her Greek village next door neighbor Stavros (Steve) Ziakris, moved with him to Johannesberg, South Africa and welcomed her first son Leonidas (Loney) in 1967. They returned to North Vancouver shortly after his birth, bought a house and eventually welcomed their second son, Achilles (Ikie) in 1973.

The family moved to Roberts Creek in 1979 where they purchased 12 acres and began building the Ikelon Manufactured Home Park. The Park would remain her beloved home for the rest of her life. Maria established a hair salon first in Sechelt and later as a house salon where she cultivated a loyal clientele that she adored and who adored her.

Maria was a woman devoted and distinguished by her deep, loving Christian faith. She was an exuberant and committed member of the St. Mary’s Parish in Gibsons. This faith was a joyful lived experience for her. Maria’s openness to everyone, her energy, willfulness, drive, enthusiasm, generosity and tender-heartedness were all an extension of her faith. To those with the great privilege of knowing her, she radiated warmth and an indomitable spirit. She continued her works of charity and love until her last breath. In particular, she was uncompromisingly devoted to the Volunteer Shopping program at the IGA in Wilson Creek. Maria’s great affection for the staff there (and for those who she shopped for) was immense and overstated.

To her children, especially, she was a remarkable woman whose legacy will be deeply felt: of unselfish love and generosity, of joy and a deep contentment with all of God’s gifts. It is impossible to express the immensity of grief her passing has left us. But we trust she is at peace, now in the presence of the Lord she adored and worshipped.

Maria is survived by her two sons Ikie and Loney and Loney’s wife Ronda. She adored her granddaughter Kalista, her husband Tristan and her grandson Steven. We invite all those who would like to pay their final respects to her funeral which will be held 11:00 AM on 21 February at St. Mary’s Church in Gibsons. The internment will be at Seaview Cemetery at 1:00 PM and a reception will follow.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maria Ziakris, please visit our floral store.