Aikaterini Thomazos

AIKATERINI THOMAZOS

Aikaterini Thomazos, 87, of Philadelphia Pennsylvania passed away on the night of Aug18th, 2022 surrounded by her loving children.

“Yiayia Katina” was born in 1935, in Chios Greece in the small village of Tholo Potami. A feisty young girl as she was, she did not heed the warning so easily, as her father had told her to forget school and that she will be a good wife and a good mother. Her parents Konstantinos Politakis and Anna Patra made sure for a better life and moved to Konstantinoupoli. Papou Konstantinos was a self-made architect and a postal worker, while her mother a home maker.

Our mother was the oldest of two children to grow up in the city of Konstantinoupoli, where she lost her first brother - Nikolaos to Leukemia. Life gave them a gift of another boy – a miracle. And now she became a sister again.

They were proud to live and work in the city connecting Asia and Europe. They made a family there and memories to be proud of.

Katina, a technical seamstress, married her love Konstantinos – a musician and a master tailor. It was said at the time they were married my mother had made so many women happy with their dresses that at the age of 16 years, Katina had made more lira than all the men combined in her neighborhood. Their first two children were born - Athina, and Alexandros.

An inner country uprising in 1964 made Hellenic families move to where they could. And again, a move to a busy city like Athens, proved to be decisive factor for their survival applying their technical abilities in the garment and clothing industry. They moved to the textile and tourist district of Monastiraki and set up a shirt making business with their own brand selling men’s shirts.

Opportunity knocked once more with the idea to move to America. Katina made the bold move to enhance her family’s livelihood. Katina landed in Philadelphia in 1981. She made sure our family made the most from the intellect she possessed. The adventures she endured and the stories that can be told do not fit in one telling. She was fierce with her gaze, and her spirit was like an angel’s – soft and unwavering. She would give to the poor, but don’t you dare take advantage of her kindness.

An owner of multiple restaurants with the help of her devoted children.

“Yiayia” Katina left a legacy of genuine care for humanity.

She is survived by her brother Nikolaos, her children Athina, Alex, and Dino (wife Katerina), grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many cousins travelled and settled in distant lands like Australia, and France who have also survived by their children.

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