TSIOLAS, Petros Tsiolas

Passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on July 8, 2026, at the age of 70. In the days before his passing, he was blessed to have his three children and grandchildren close to him.

Petros Tsiolas was born and raised in Pefko, Kastoria, Greece, the son of Konstantinos and Hariklia Tsiolas. He knew poverty and hardship from a young age. As a young man, he left his village and moved to Kastoria, carrying with him the perseverance, steadfastness, and determination that would define the rest of his life. In his early twenties, he married his wife, Agapi. Together, they welcomed their three children: Rev. Fr. Konstantinos and his wife, Antonia; Hristos; and Hariklia, known to many as Haroula, and her husband, Touraj.

In 1991, Petros and Agapi packed up their children and their lives and immigrated to Toronto, Canada. With English not being their first language, they faced the uncertainty of a new country and culture together. His brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tryphon and Calypso Terpou, played an instrumental role in helping them come to Canada and begin this new chapter of their lives.

Petros worked several jobs before being hired as an automotive-parts welder, a trade he continued in until his retirement. He worked hard and sacrificed quietly to provide the best life he could for his family, often putting aside his own needs and wants for the sake of his wife and children. His love was not usually expressed through many words. It was seen in long days of work and in problems repaired without complaint.

Anyone who asked Petros to repair a faucet, fix a cupboard, lay a floor, patch a wall, cut the grass, or clear a driveway after a heavy snowfall knew that he would be there. He gave his time and labour freely, often treating another person’s problem as though it were his own.

He shared an especially close bond with his middle son, Hristos, to whom he was not only a devoted father but also a best friend.

His quiet and serious demeanour could sometimes seem like a wall, but behind it was a man of great sweetness. That side of him became most evident around his grandchildren: Agapi, daughter of Konstantinos and Antonia, and Athena and Thomas, children of Haroula and Touraj. They became his greatest source of joy and peace.

He watched them play, repaired their broken toys, and joined them in the yard. He allowed them to climb all over him, even as he pretended to be annoyed. They knew the tenderness beneath his serious expression and brought out a side of him that his family will never forget.

Outside his family, Petros’s great devotion was his garden. He tended it daily, watching carefully over every plant and finding peace in the steady work of watering, pruning, and cultivating what he had planted.

Petros will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, relative, and friend. His life was marked by quiet sacrifice, steadfast love, and service to those around him.

He was predeceased by his parents, Konstantinos and Hariklia Tsiolas, and by his mother-in-law, Eleftheria Terpou.

He is survived by Agapi, his devoted wife, who faithfully honoured and stood beside her husband throughout their marriage; his children, Rev. Fr. Konstantinos and Antonia, Hristos, and Hariklia and Touraj; and his beloved grandchildren, Agapi, Athena, and Thomas. He is also survived by his brother, Vasilios, and his wife, Aristoula, and their children, Grigiorios and Eleftheria, in Greece; his father-in-law, Christos Terpou; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tryphon and Calypso Terpou; and their daughters, Alexandra and her husband, Chris, and Christina.

The viewing and funeral service will take place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3840 Finch Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario, as follows:

Viewing: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Interment will follow at Elgin Mills Cemetery, 1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, Ontario.

May the Lord grant rest to the soul of His servant Petros among the righteous.

May his memory be eternal.