Obituary of Helen Vorvis

With great sadness, the Vorvis family announces that Helen (Eleni) Vorvis (neé Frangou) passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 21, 2013 at the Guelph General Hospital. Predeceased by her parents, Panagiota (Granitsiotis) and Stefanos Frangos. Survived by her husband, William "Bill" Vorvis, her sons Paul (Mary), Stephen and Peter (Ann Armstrong), her grandchildren Elena, Peter and James, her sister Roula and her brothers Michael (Linda) and Tom (Lynda) and many nieces and nephews. Born in Xylokastron, Greece, Helen immigrated to London, Ontario in the 1950s. After meeting William at a Hellenic community dance in Hamilton, they married and settled in Guelph for 57 years. Devoted to her three sons, she created a welcoming home near St. George’s Park. In her family, she encouraged study, sports, Hellenic classics, and the arts. Helen welcomed the many friends of her sons and husband with their diverse interests. At Parkholme Avenue, one would find barbershop quartet singing, family jazz jam sessions, dinner parties, Schumann on the piano, St. George’s Park boys imbibing post-tennis drinks, Pascha celebrations, happy friends dancing the kalamatianό, ball-hockey in the "rec room" and Sunday night roast beef dinners. Sunday mornings, she organized the Vorvis clan for the drive to Hamilton and, in later years, to Waterloo to attend the closest Greek Orthodox parish. Despite the hubbub of life, Helen still found time to pursue her personal interests - ceramic art, Greek baking, the Guelph Spring Festival, organizing family holidays and helping new Greek-Canadian families during the formative years of the Hellenic Community of Guelph. Above all, Helen loved her family and relished the visits of her children and grandchildren. May her memory be eternal. The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses and staff of the Guelph General Hospital for their compassionate care of Helen and their support of Helen’s family. Friends may call at the GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013 from 7 to 9 p.m., with a brief trisagion prayer at 7:45 pm. A private family funeral service will take place. Memorial contributions to the Guelph General Hospital, St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Guelph or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. We invite you to leave your memories and donations online. Service Information Service Location Private Family Funeral Service Visitation Sun. Aug. 25 Visitation Time 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Visitation Location Gilchrist Chapel, McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home Burial Location Private Family Burial Requested Charity St. George Greek Orthodox Church or The Foundation Of Guelph General Hospital