Yiannoula J. Mastrovaselis 1936-2025

Yiannoula was born Ioanna Chrysostomos Triantafillou on Nov. 22, 1936, in Heraklion, Crete, 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, 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, Colleena Mastrovaselis of Brooklyn, New York, Zambia Mastrovaselis of Struthers, and her son, George (Tom Hetrick) Mastrovaselis of Campbell; her siblings, Kiki (Yianni) Kambourakis, Niko (JoAnne) Trantafillou and Marika (Andreas) Vamvakis; and sisters-in-law, 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 and 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 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.

Calling hours will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Campbell, followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m., officiated by the Rev. Steve Denas.

Please visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary and to leave condolences with the family.

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