Golfo Papathanassiou Kapellakis, age 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, December 30, 2016 at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. She was born on August 17, 1930 in Agrinion, Greece.

Golfo truly was a beautiful person, which George Kapellakis took quick notice of and married her in 1955. Together they raised four children. But times were tough in Greece and George traveled alone to Portland, to create a better life for his family. This is when Golfo shined as she ran the family tobacco farm while raising four children on her own. From that day on, she was the glue of the family. Golfo and her children reunited with her husband in Portland, in 1972, where she and her family owned and operated the Lovejoy Grocery on NW 23rd Ave, in which patrons commonly called Golfo “Mamma”. Golfo may have retired from Lovejoy but she did not retire from spreading her love and humor. She was well known and loved on NW 23rd and always made new friends and made people laugh at her favorite hangouts including the Greek Café Dorio and Starbucks.

Left to honor and remember her love are Golfo’s four children, Steve Kapellakis (Lena), Aphrodite Battalia (Brian), Ekaterina Arkoumanis (Leo), Vicki Kapellakis; five grandchildren, Stergios Arkoumanis, Nick Battalia, Emmanuel Tsimouris, George Kapellakis, and Elizabeth Kapellakis; two great-grandchildren, Leo and Eli Arkoumanis.

Golfo was preceded in death by her husband, George Kapellakis; and her grandson, George Tsimouris.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday January 4, 2017 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 3131 NE Glissan.

In lieu of flowers, Golfo would have wished for donations to be made to the St. John Monastery, 5 Timmer Ln, Goldendale, WA 98620, (509)773-7141.

Funeral Service

11:00 AM ,Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
3131 NE Glisan St Portland,, OR 97232