Helen Kanellopoulos

Helen (Eleni) Kanellopoulos, 80, of Northbrook, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2022 surrounded by her family. Helen was born in Stadion, Tegeas, Greece on July 15, 1942 to the late Apostolos and Harikleia Berlis. Helen graduated from Yimnasio Tegeas high school. As a young woman, Helen excelled and was creative in needlepoint and worked tirelessly on the family farm.

Helen met her late husband Nick Kanellopoulos in high school. Before leaving Greece to study engineering, Nick asked her to wait for him. Some years later, a mutual friend encouraged Helen to connect with Nick again. They began writing to each other and when she came to the U.S. to stay with her sister, Koula and brother-in-law, Gus, Nick and Helen saw each other again and the rest was history. She and Nick were married in 1967 and welcomed their sons, John and Paul.

When Nick’s employer asked them to relocate to Venezuela, Helen and Nick were excited to accept the assignment and the new adventure ahead of them. The family moved to Venezuela in 1975. While living in Caracas, Helen quickly learned perfect Spanish, established lifelong friendships with people from around the world and traveled all over South America with her family. She enjoyed a mutual liking of parrots and stray cats and had a talent for making any plant she touched thrive in her home and garden. Helen and Nick loved talking with each other, often until the early morning hours over several cups of strong coffee.

Helen was known for her delicious home cooked meals and Greek pastries as well as the heartiest, most recognizable laugh around. Guests always left her home with a full belly and a plate of food to enjoy the next day. Her embraces were powerful and she always greeted others with pure joy to see them and sincere interest to learn about their lives. Even though she lived most of her life across the Atlantic from her siblings, she spoke with them several times a week, often for hours, and was very close to them.

In addition to her devotion to family and friends, Helen was passionately interested in world events. When she wasn’t busy keeping her home in impeccable order, cooking wonderful meals, tending to her plants or talking with the people she loved, she allowed herself the pleasure of watching her favorite telenovelas.

Closest to her heart, were Helen’s sons John and Paul of whom she was infinitely proud. One of her biggest joys was her grandson, Alex. She enjoyed being part of his everyday life, taking him to school and going to his activities, testing him on the Greek words he was learning and listening to him. She was sharing memories of Alex in her last days. In 2018, she had the joy of seeing John marry his wonderful wife, Jula.

Although she was petite in stature, Helen was a courageous warrior in her life journey, particularly with the challenges she faced from losing her husband at the age of 48 and her quiet 14-year battle with cancer. Words cannot express our profound loss and the void her passing has left in our lives. We will miss her greatly. Our only consolation is that she is in peace now.

Helen Kanellopoulos beloved wife of her dear late husband, Nick Kanellopoulos, is survived by her sons John (loving daughter-in-law, Jula Turipe) and Paul, her grandson Alex, her sisters Koula (Gus) Spears and Nina (Manolis) Toumpakaris, her brother Vasilis (Dimitra) Berlis and her many nieces, Maria Spears and Harriet (Jon) Tatooles, nephews Dimitris Toumpakaris, Apostolos (Natalia) Toumpakaris, Dimitris and Alekos Vasalos, her great nieces Julia Tatooles and Anastasia Toumpakaris and great nephews Kevin and William Tatooles and Grégoire Toumpakaris. Helen is preceded in death by her father, Apostolos and Harikleia Berlis and youngest sister, Niki Vasalos.

A visitation honoring the life of Helen Kanellopoulos will be held October 3, 2022, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Matz Mt. Prospect Funeral Chapel, 410 E. Rand Road, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, 9899 Main St. #204, Damascus, MD 20872, an organization Helen felt strongly about. Arrangements by Demeros Funeral and Cremation Services. For information, please call 847-302-7176