Obituary for Vasiliki "Vaso" Droutsas
It is with great sadness that the family of Vasiliki “Vaso” Droutsas, (nee Kostakis), announces her passing peacefully on December 5, 2018. Vasiliki was born on August 7, 1924, in Achladokambos, Argolidos, Greece. Vasiliki was a loving and caring wife and mother, while always helping relatives, friends, and strangers.
Vasiliki survived World War II in Greece in the 1940’s. Her father sent her to travel to America to live with her Uncle Angelo Pappas, a detective for the Police Department, in Reno. She traveled by ship on the Queen Mary landing at Ellis Island. She then took a train to Chicago, and ultimately to Reno.
Vasiliki worked as a seamstress at Joseph Magnin Women’s Clothing in downtown Reno for many years. Because of her fine skill she had the opportunity to alter dresses for Eva Gardner, Rita Hayworth, and many other prominent political figures in Nevada. She went back to Greece and married her husband Ioannis (John), returning to Reno to raise a family.
Vasiliki was an active 70-year (lifetime) member of the Daughters of Penelope, an organization founded to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, and family & individual excellence. Vasiliki was a very devout Greek Orthodox Christian often baking the Sunday Prosphoro (Holy Bread) for St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church. She is remembered by her beautiful rose and flower gardens, fruit trees, and her vegetable gardens where she spent many hours outdoors maintaining them. She was also an advocate for education, of Greek culture, an excellent cook and baker, and followed politics closely while voting at every election. Vasiliki shared many interesting stories over the years related to the vast experiences she had during her life.
She is survived by her son Angelo of Reno, and daughter Alexandra “Kouki” Wachowicz (Mark) of Schaumburg, IL. Brother Nikolaos Kostakis (Evangelia) of Greece, and sisters Panagiota Floutsis of Reno and Georgia Saltaris of Greece as well as many nieces and nephews in Reno, Salt Lake City, Berlin Germany and Greece.
A Trisagion is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at Walton’s Funeral home 875 W. Second Street in Reno with visitation at 6:00 p.m. A service from the Daughters of Penelope will be at 6:45 p.m. The Funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church, 4795 Lakeside Drive, Reno, NV 89509, followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memoriam of Vasiliki to the Daughters of Penelope through Joan Lagios, 2600 Combs Canyon Road, Carson City, NV 89703 or to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church. Vasiliki will be greatly missed.
Vasiliki survived World War II in Greece in the 1940’s. Her father sent her to travel to America to live with her Uncle Angelo Pappas, a detective for the Police Department, in Reno. She traveled by ship on the Queen Mary landing at Ellis Island. She then took a train to Chicago, and ultimately to Reno.
Vasiliki worked as a seamstress at Joseph Magnin Women’s Clothing in downtown Reno for many years. Because of her fine skill she had the opportunity to alter dresses for Eva Gardner, Rita Hayworth, and many other prominent political figures in Nevada. She went back to Greece and married her husband Ioannis (John), returning to Reno to raise a family.
Vasiliki was an active 70-year (lifetime) member of the Daughters of Penelope, an organization founded to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, and family & individual excellence. Vasiliki was a very devout Greek Orthodox Christian often baking the Sunday Prosphoro (Holy Bread) for St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church. She is remembered by her beautiful rose and flower gardens, fruit trees, and her vegetable gardens where she spent many hours outdoors maintaining them. She was also an advocate for education, of Greek culture, an excellent cook and baker, and followed politics closely while voting at every election. Vasiliki shared many interesting stories over the years related to the vast experiences she had during her life.
She is survived by her son Angelo of Reno, and daughter Alexandra “Kouki” Wachowicz (Mark) of Schaumburg, IL. Brother Nikolaos Kostakis (Evangelia) of Greece, and sisters Panagiota Floutsis of Reno and Georgia Saltaris of Greece as well as many nieces and nephews in Reno, Salt Lake City, Berlin Germany and Greece.
A Trisagion is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at Walton’s Funeral home 875 W. Second Street in Reno with visitation at 6:00 p.m. A service from the Daughters of Penelope will be at 6:45 p.m. The Funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church, 4795 Lakeside Drive, Reno, NV 89509, followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memoriam of Vasiliki to the Daughters of Penelope through Joan Lagios, 2600 Combs Canyon Road, Carson City, NV 89703 or to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church. Vasiliki will be greatly missed.