Obituary of George Makris

George Makris, 74, of Manotick, Ontario passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023. Services will be held at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Ottawa on Thursday, September 21 at 10 am for visitation followed by the funeral service at 11 am.  

George was born on the Island of Samos in Greece and immigrated to Canada when he was 12 years old.  He was so proud of his Greek Heritage, Culture and particularly loved Greek Music while playing his rhythm guitar. Through his love of music and his Rock and Roll band, The Penny, he met the love of his life, Helen, at 20 years old. Married for 54 years, George and Helen were best friends and lifelong partners that shared a special love that was admired by all. Together they had four children, James, Manny, Artie, and Patti. He adored his family and his grandchildren, where he was affectionately called “Papoo.” George was known for his character and genuine kindness toward all those that he encountered. He was generous, loving, and always willing to help. He was a true friend and had a passion for making people happy. George spent 25+ years of his career working for Sears Canada and retired at the age of 59. In his retirement, he enjoyed visiting and living seasonally in St. Petersburg, Florida. He always stayed incredibly active while spending time with his family and completing many renovation projects on their family home. He was a passionate, skilled craftsman and always curious to learn. He had a natural ability and wanted to understand the intricacies to restore or repair practically anything. George was meticulous and took great pride in all that he did. This showed in how he cared for his home, musical instruments, and collectible cars to name a few. Most importantly, George was an amazing son, husband, father, and grandfather that will be deeply missed by his family and everyone who knew him.

George is survived by his wife, Helen, and four children, James (Courtney) Makris of St. Petersburg, Florida, Manny Makris of Williamsburg, Ontario, Artie Makris of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Patti (Frank) Colletti of Manotick, Ontario. He is also survived by his four beloved grandchildren, James Makris Jr., Mikayla Makris, Charlotte Colletti and Victoria Colletti.

Services will be held at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Ottawa on Thursday, September 21 at 10 am for visitation followed by the funeral at 11 am. Flowers may be sent to the church in his loving memory or donations to the church.