A life of giving: Farewell to Zoe Zapri

Human beings stand powerless successful the look of death. While each of us accepts the people of beingness — that decease is simply a continuation of commencement and maturation — we struggle to reconcile with the unknown that follows the departure of our loved ones. More than anything, we are confronted with the achy lack near behind, the nonaccomplishment of those with whom we shared decades of beingness arsenic family, friends and members of the aforesaid community.

All religions, arsenic well arsenic philosophical traditions and sceptical thought, effort to construe this metaphysical travel — whether arsenic a descent into the earth, an ascent to the heavens, oregon a transition done an in-between realm. Yet thing tin truly heal the grief of loss. Not adjacent time, which is said to heal each wounds, tin erase oregon diminish the imprint of a beingness lived — whether agelong oregon short, inward oregon shared.

The Church reminds us that mourning is natural; that we grieve profoundly when confronted with decease because, astatine first, we cannot judge that our loved 1 is gone — that they will nary longer stand beside us, and that we indispensable proceed without them. But this world belongs to those who remain, not to the departed. As the past philosopher Socrates declared to those who condemned him: “I spell to die, obeying the laws of the State; you stay to live. But which of us goes to the amended fate, nary tin know.”

It is wise to recognise that adjacent a beingness lived concisely is simply a fortunate 1 — for it has experienced the world, nature, the sea, and the beingness of others. True happiness, however, lies successful what 1 creates, successful what 1 builds, and successful what 1 endures and struggles for.

Happiness is recovered successful household — successful the laughter and tears of children, successful the clasp of grandchildren, successful the quiescent restitution of those who felt the warmth of one’s love. It is an accomplishment to depart beingness having fixed fully, having contributed, having created a lineage that continues beyond us.

The precocious Zoe Zapri belonged to this uncommon and profoundly fulfilled class — a woman who lived with purpose, generosity and devotion to her family, her assemblage and her homeland.

She arrived successful Australia successful 1953 astatine conscionable 5 years old, alongside her parent Eva and her 5 siblings, pursuing her begetter Kypros Iakovou, who had migrated earlier — portion of the wave of astir 300,000 Greek and Cypriot migrants who sought a caller beingness abroad. Born successful Choirokoitia, 1 of Cyprus’ oldest Neolithic settlements, Zoe grew up successful Melbourne surrounded by the emotion of her family.

She aboriginal joined Ioannis Zapri, a antheral of quiescent strength and integrity from Drymos, Thessaloniki. Together they built a beingness from the crushed up, raising 4 sons and welcoming 9 grandchildren. As partners, they achieved singular success, establishing Ellikon Fine Printers — 1 of Australia’s starring printing companies, recognised nationally for its excellence — while supporting countless families done their business.

Their entrepreneurial spirit continued with the instauration of Sirpaz Winery successful Wandin East, a renowned destination known for its vineyard, edifice and lawsuit spaces overlooking Victoria’s ranges. Today, Sirpaz stands among the astir fashionable wineries successful Australia and beyond.

As a parent and matriarch, Zoe was the unbreakable nexus within her household — a changeless source of care, generosity and hospitality. Her location and household workplace were ever unfastened to friends and relatives, embodying a spirit of warmth and welcome.

Her publication to the Greek assemblage was arsenic profound. Deeply integrated into Australian society while maintaining a strong Greek identity, she was actively progressive successful charitable and assemblage initiatives, supporting the constitution of aged attraction facilities and contributing to fundraising efforts for Orthodox churches.

A woman of heavy faith, she honoured traditions such arsenic the feast of Saint Fanourios, patron saint of her hometown. She was besides an progressive beingness successful schoolhouse communities, helping organise events to support Ivanhoe Grammar School, where her children were educated.

Her enactment extended to taste institutions, including her relation arsenic founding president of the Friends of EKEME, supporting its world and publishing initiatives. The household concern continued this legacy, contributing to large taste events such arsenic UNESCO’s World Greek Language Day done sponsorship and people production.

Zoe Zapri did not depart this beingness “full of years” by today’s standards. At 78, she leaves down a bequest defined not by duration, but by extent — a beingness marked by kindness, generosity and unwavering love.

She will beryllium remembered for her warm smile, her gentle care, her boundless hospitality and her content that Greek individuality and Orthodoxy are inseparable. She loved without expectation, with a generosity that endured adjacent done life’s hardships.

She leaves this world fulfilled — arsenic a wife, a parent and a grandma — having lived to give, to make and to permission down a bequest that cannot fade.

As agelong arsenic her representation remains with those who loved her, Zoe will proceed to unrecorded among us — a radiant and enduring presence.