Violet Callas

Callas, Violet age 95, of Minneapolis. Our inestimable Yiayia passed to her eternal habitation on April 11, leaving behind a legion of admirers who are already missing her elegance, her candor and her koulourakia. Vasiliki Kallas was born in Pakia, Greece, the oldest of George and Katherine Kallas' eight children. She left her Peloponnesian village on a donkey at age 11 and set sail from Patras for New York City. After a week on Ellis Island, she boarded a train for Minnesota to live with an uncle, John Kallas. In 1926 she married William Callas, who preceded her in death by 56 years. Together they owned the Riviera Cafe and the Campus Cafe in Minneapolis and raised three children, who survive their mother: Athena Johnson (Fred) of Rio Rico, Ariz., Michael W. Callas of Marine on St. Croix and Kathy Hoff of Shoreview. Her sons-in-law Eivind Hoff, Hank Valenti and Peter Voorlas, daughter-in-law Robin Callas, sister Eleni Kripotos and brother Tony Kallas also predeceased her. Violet is also survived by sisters Voula Ververakis of Athens, Greece; Dimitra (John) Kanavaros, Kyrani Kallas, Pota Polykandriotis and brother, Nick (Pota) Kallas, all of Vancouver, B.C., and many nieces, nephews and cousins, including Elaine Kallas of Hopkins and Jimmy (Helen) Kallas of Port St. Lucie, Fla. She cherished her grandchildren Stephanie, Peter, Will and Jennifer Voorlas; Christine Callas Kinoshita (Ken) and Bill Callas (Nancy); Paul Hoff (Mary) and Lisa Hoff (Jon Bacal), and her great-grandchildren Tony, Kate and Dan Hoff, Nick Vourlas and Lincoln Bacal. The family acknowledges with thanks and gratitude the expert attentions of Park Nicollet Drs. Greg Lehman and Paul Carlson. Visitation is 30 minutes before the funeral service and Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. (Trisagion 6:30) at Washburn- McReavy Edina Chapel, 5000 W. 50th St. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Av. S in Minneapolis. Memorials preferred to St. Mary's Church Foundation Fund or the Minnesota Medical Foundation (for heart research), P.O. Box 64001, St. Paul, MN 55164-0001. Ipno elafri kai onira glika.

Tributes

Violet Callas

April 16, 2006

Tributes

Violet Callas

April 16, 2006

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203