Ekaterine Kehayas

Ekaterine Kehayas was born on November 12, 1930 in Kozani, Greece. She was the daughter of Ioannis and Alexandra Papaioannou. She grew up very poor, leaving school after second grade to begin working to help support her family. She had one brother, Theodoraki Papaioannou who recently passed away in March of this year.
Ekaterine “Katie” or “Yiayia” was a loving sister, wife, mother and grandmother.
Yiayia was married to Pashalis Kehayas, who passed away in 2008. Together they raised their two children in Thessaloniki, Greece and later Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their son, Kostas Kehayas lived in Thessaloniki and sadly passed away in 2007 leaving behind his loving wife Anna, and their son Pashalis.
Their daughter Virginia Halkidis lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and is the wife of Theodore and the mother of Konstantine, Katrina, and Pascal Alexander.
Yiayia was a person with a generous heart and an infectious smile. She had a wonderful sense of humor while sustaining a herculean work ethic.
When Yiayia lived in Philadelphia, she and her husband and son were food truck vendors at the corner of 18th and Market Streets. She always kept a loyal customer base and served food with great joy. She was a successful business woman, but also believed in charity and helping others. At the end of each work day she would give whatever she had left to the needy homeless population. Yiayia had a passion for food and cooking and especially for feeding her family.
Yiayia was a beloved mother to Kostas and Virginia, lovingly providing them with help in raising both of their families.
Yiayia adored all of her grand children and was devoted to their happiness. She was the grandmother of dreams, taking the children shopping to toy stores or shoe stores or candy stores and filling the cart to the brim. No gift was too extravagant.
Yiayia’s life was filled with friends and family. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.
She is survived by her daughter Virginia and son-in-law Theodore Halkidis; grandsons Konstantine and Pascal Alexander Halkidis and Pashalis Kehayas; granddaughter Katrina Halkidis and her husband James Chiariello; and her daughter-in-law Anna Konstantinidis.
Yiayia held a special place in her heart for Daria and Noah Walters and Mukta and Dipti Khasnis, as well as our family dogs Oliver and Zelda and our cat Stanley.
She is also survived by her cousin Katina Lousos and the Lousos Family in Allentown, Pennsylvania; as well as the family of her late brother Theodoraki, and many other cousins, nieces and nephews and friends and neighbors in Greece.