So Long Aunt Katina !

 

So Long Aunt Katina !

by Justine Frangouli-Argyris

 

My aunt Katina was a girl among the many children born to the Vlachos family, in the mountainous village of Exanthia, in Lefkada. This did not bode well for the youngsters, especially for the girls, as the village and its surrounding area were located in a barren region of the island.

 In her early youth, however, she received an invitation from her siblings who had immigrated to Sydney and, thus, happily found herself in Australia. There, she began to work for her own well-being, to build her dowry, as well as for that of her family back home.

 Voyaging by ocean liner to Australia, she followed the fate of thousands of Greek immigrants who sought a better life abroad. With her brothers’ support and with her youth and desire for work, she had reached thirty by the time she was ready to wed.

 As most of her compatriots, she desired to wed a 'man from her hometown' and, thus, uncle Leonidas Frangoulis, the youngest of my respected father's brothers, came into the picture. “Uncle Leonidis,” as he was called back home in Englouvi where he was destined to a life grazing the family’s sheep, was a delicate creature who did not take to agricultural work. When a marriage proposal with Katina’s picture arrived depicting her black hair and dark, glowing look, he instantly decided to depart for Sydney, to marry her and start a family.

 I remember, there in her paternal house, in the middle of Exanthia, at the engagement party that was held, the groom dancing with the photo of the bride he had received and impatiently waiting to meet her upon his arrival in the distant world down under. The guests danced the “tsamiko” and the “kalamatiano” and they sang and played the violins while uncle Leonidis was full of emotion as he would be off to a better life in Australia but leaving his family and homeland behind.

 Aunt Katina welcomed him there. He fell in love with her warm personality and liveliness and they soon became a couple before God. They sent us the very large wedding photos that showed Katina wearing a beautiful wedding dress with a white tulle. I remember this photo that sat on the buffet in my grandmother Konstantia's house in Englouvi.

As children, we had never met aunt Katina but we learned to love her from afar because uncle Leonidis would send letters every month that my father would read aloud to us.

 Katina helped Leonidas start out and, together, they worked hard to make a good home. Soon, their only child, the beautiful Konstantina,(Kossy) was born who took the colors of her mother and the “Frangoulis” features of her father.

 After 12 years, along with 10-year old Konstantina, they finally returned to Greece for the first time. And they brought goodies from Australia, I do not remember what and how, only that a set of “formal” cutlery was given to my Mother who was always quick to mention this at our special family gatherings.

 Aunt Katina was a sweet yet dynamic woman, a quiet force, who stood strongly by her family but never failed to support her extended family in Lefkada. They visited their homeland many times over the years and my Mom was happy with her sister-in-law , for her kindness, immediacy and honesty. Although separated by continents and oceans, whenever they got together they spoke like sisters who had never been apart.

 Aunt Katina was happy to see her daughter Konstantina graduate from Univeristy, marry her love, John, and have two exceptional children, Chris and Katerina,( who took her grandma’s name). She was very active, an excellent cook and housewife and, when we visited them in 2012, she opened her big arms and welcomed us lovingly. She organized a big feast with all the Greek specialties and treated us as if we were her own. Our unforgettable moments in Australia with uncle Leonidis and aunt Katina are recorded forever in my memory and my heart.

 In her final years, Aunt Katina suffered as her beloved Leonidis was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and was unable to recognize her. As such, perhaps it's better that she left, and he will not realize it. However she departed tragically and abruptly hit by a car in the middle of the road.

 Have a good trip to heaven Aunt Katina. We will remember you with a lot of love for what you were to all of us. Warm greetings to my grandparents, your brothers-in-law and cousins. And a special hug to our “Butterfly.”  I promise you will be in the best company! Until we meet again!