Yiannoula JoAnna Mastrovaselis

Yiannoula JoAnna Mastrovaselis, 88

Campbell…The family of Yiannoula JoAnna Mastrovaselis are honoring her life, as she passed away Thursday, April 24, with her family nearby.

Yiannoula was born Ioanna Chrysostomos Triantafillou in Heraklion, Crete on November 22, 1936 to Chrysostomos and Zambia Porfyrakis Triantafillou. Despite growing up under occupation during World War II, she recalled with great admiration growing up in Crete with her seven siblings and her huge extended family nearby.  She often recalled a euphoria after the War, and despite the tough circumstances, life in a bustling cosmopolitan town, the many walks to the port and the bucolic countryside outside of the walls of her Venetian walled city of Heraklion were imprinted on her forever. Yiannoula was a proud Cretan woman, with a soft smile, large heart and a quiet fortitude.

Yiannoula was a skilled and creative seamstress, who took great pride in her work. In her youth, she worked in factories and later was mentored to master the art of designing, creating and altering clothing.

In 1961, her uncle Triantafillos introduced her to her husband Spyros (Pete) Mastrovaselis of Campbell, and after a double wedding with her sister Panorea (George) Kambouris in Aghios Minas Cathedral, they all moved to Campbell, Ohio where she spent the rest of her life raising her children. Her sister Marika and Niko would join her in Campbell, and with her husband’s Spiro’s family combined, she found herself again surrounded by a noisy, loving  and tight family. Her joy later in life was her four grandchildren Tony Schialdone, Spiro Schialdone, Spiro Jamison and Niko Jamison. With hard candies in her windbreaker pockets, her strong arms carried her four grandsons with pride and danced with them around her house as she did her children.

Yiannoula nurtured a home on Coitsville Road which was packed with a vibrant family life. Her home was a multi-generational haven of love, where on any day you can find Yiayias, Papous, Theos, Theias and Cousins and Friends enjoying each other’s company with Yiannoula, cooking, sewing and dancing throughout the house. Basketball and kickball games in the driveway, and chess or epic poker games inside – of which she was a savvy player.

After the death of her husband Spiro, you could see her walking to Roosevelt Park, where she would stop and chat with anyone.  Always yearning for her island, she eventually came to love and appreciate the loving community of Campbell, especially Archangel Michael Church where she enjoyed watching her great nephews Skevos and Andreas grow up and dance at the festival with all of the great nephews and nieces. She was blessed with beautiful neighbors and acquaintances throughout the city.

Yiannoula leaves behind her four children Christina (John) Schialdone of Lowellville, OH,  Colleena Mastrovaselis of Brooklyn, NY, Zambia Mastrovaselis of Struthers, and her son George (Tom Hetrick) Mastrovaselis of Campbell. Her siblings, Kiki (Yianni) Kambourakis, Niko Trantafillou (JoAnne), Marika (Andreas) Vamvakis, and sister-in-laws-Themelina Ginnis and Martha Marousis.

Yiannoula was preceded in death by her husband Spiro (Pete), her loving siblings Triantafillos (Nitsa) Triantafillou, Panorea (George) Kambouris, and Andonis (Eleni) Triantafillou. Also beloved in-laws: John Mastrovaselis, Mary (Donald) Barker, Nick Ginnis

The Mastrovaselis Family would like to deeply thank her niece Dr. Vasilia Vamvakis for her loving care in the last months of her life, Raphael Skillas for the love and nurturing he gave Yiannoula during her final years in her sister Panorea’s House. The caring staff of the Hospice House of the Valley and Dr. Frangopoulos for her care for the last 30 years.

The Mastrovaselis Family has entrusted Yiannoula’s care to the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell, Ohio. Calling Hours will be Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Campbell from 8:30-10am followed by a funeral service at 10am officiated by Father Steve Denas.

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