Kyriaki “Tula” Simotas

August 18, 1932 - January 28, 2023

Passed away January 28, 2023, in Walnut Creek, California. Kyriaki was born August 18, 1932 in Argostoli, Kefalonia Greece. She is survived by her two children Sevasti (Joseph) and Anastasios “Ernie” (Lori), her grandchildren Demetra, Demetri & Zoe and two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her siblings Emmanuel (Harriet), Vangeli, Niko, Gerasimo, Aloisi & Sophia. Kyriaki is survived by many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins in Greece, New York, North Carolina & Australia.

Kyriaki’s childhood was commandeered by World War II, a Nazi occupation and a devastating earthquake. She was able to complete her high school education. She met her husband of 65 years as a teen at a wedding but was sent away from Kefalonia after the 1953 earthquake which devastated her home. They weren’t to meet again until years later in Philadelphia where she moved with her maternal uncle, aunt and cousin to be a seamstress sewing fur collars onto coats for 3 cents per collar. Demetrios, a merchant marine, would mail letters to her which were confiscated by her aunt. He eventually left everything behind to jump ship and find his bride. Kyriaki did get the letters with the help of her beloved cousin and eloped to Maryland. The couple moved to San Francisco to work at Rocco’s Fine Foods on Mission Street in the Excelsior District, a business they eventually purchased and ran until retirement in 1993. Kyriaki had two main hobbies: first, worrying about her children and second, needlepoint where she would stay up at night waiting for her children to come home from their escapades.

Kyriaki was known by many nicknames including Tula, Koula, Gria and Bobby Brown (for the care of her weekly hair style). She was fiercely proud of her family and had a strong will to live in to see her grandchildren’s successes. She cheated death many a time, but finally succumbed to be with her beloved Demetrios. Her care was amazingly managed by her daughter to whom we are all beyond thankful.

Kyriaki will be sorely missed. Her kind loving heart, warm blue eyes, generous spirit and needlepoints made the world a better place.

Family and friends may visit on Sunday, February 5, 2023 after 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM at CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS, El Camino Real at 194 Millwood Drive in Millbrae, with a Vigil Service at 3:00 PM. Private Funeral Services on Monday will be at Greek Orthodox Memorial Park in Colma.

Her family appreciates donations to Make A Wish Arizona branch at wish.org/ Arizona.