UPDATE - A Celebration of Life for Louise will be held on THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022, at 3:00 PM, at the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 696 Glenmore Road, Kelowna, B.C.
To our Louise, our “Sweet Caroline”.
Louise Ella Mae (Wood) Goreas was born in Burns Lake, BC on May 20,1938 and passed away on the evening of Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Kelowna.
We are overwhelmed by the loss of our loving mother, grandmother (Yia Yia), and loving friend to all those who knew her.
Louise was raised in Prince Rupert, BC with her brother Robert. She would later move to Kelowna with her mother Paula. It was in Kelowna where she would meet and marry Demetrius Nicholas Goreas, start her own family and spend the rest of her life.
Louise was gregarious, boisterous, intelligent, supportive, and fierce. Some might say outspoken. She valued many things, but what she held dear more than anything else was family.
“Family first!” was her favorite saying.
Louise started her preschool teaching career with Little Bo-Peep, then to St. Jude's and eventually mom moved her preschool into her home, "Our Place." She taught many children in the Mission area that she loved and cared for as if they were her own. On numerous occasions over the years several of her students have returned to let her know how much she changed their lives, shaped their values, and made them into loving, kind, and mindful adults.
Louise’s family extended to her sisters and brothers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One of her last callings was, Stake Relief Society President. While fulfilling this calling she joyfully travelled the valley attending to the needs of her fellow sisters, always with a spiritual word and warm embrace.
If you drove by her house, you might have noticed her putting out a Greek flag. She was not Greek, but her husband was. This was another way of connecting to and proclaiming her love for her family. She would always fly the flag when any of us returned home to stay and be with her.
Over the past couple of years Mom developed some memory challenges that impacted her daily life. Her deepest and oldest memories of her family were among her most cherished. She often said that the great part about her memories, was the fact that she only seemed to remember the good ones.
We love you mom and miss you deeply. We hope you are with your mother, brother, father, and husband now. We hope that the lord is letting you look down and marvel at the incredible and amazing work that you have done and the wonderful things you have accomplished with your life and ours. You will always be in our hearts, and we will never forget you.
Predeceased by her husband Demetrius, her parents Douglas and Paula, and her brother Robert. Louise Goreas is survived by her sons Douglas (Roxane) of Kelowna, B.C.; Wade (Charline) of London, Ontario; James (Karen) of Shawnigan Lake, B.C.; Lee (Jennifer) of Toronto, Ontario; and her daughter Allison of Kelowna.
Also survived by brother-in-law, Tommy; sister-in-law, Fotini; grandchildren Robert, Madison, Jasmine, Colin, Justin, Helene, Demetra, one great-grandson DeAndre, and many nieces and nephews.
A service will be held on Thursday, August 25th, 2022 at 3 PM, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 696 Glenmore Road, Kelowna, B.C.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice Society of Canada.