Elizabeth Joannides Mills
January 2, 1924 – August 12, 2014
Elizabeth Joannides Mills died peacefully in Dallas, Texas. She will be buried in Arthur's Greenfield Cemetery alongside her children, Linda Hill, and Andrew Mills, and her grandson, Justin Hill. Survivors include 3 grandchildren, Jason Hill, Melissa Hill/Sherman and Andrea Hill as well as 3 great grandchildren, Janelle Hill, Lucas Hill and Malcolm Sherman, all of whom reside in Ontario, Canada, as well as two nieces, Marina Djinis and Katina Djinis, and one nephew, Kim Djinis, all of Dallas Texas. Ms.Mills was predeceased by her brother George Joannides, and her sister, Ann Djinis.
Ms. Mills was born in New York City to a Greek immigrant couple who created and managed the largest newspaper in the United States which served the Greek-American Community. Ms. Mills was a stunningly beautiful and elegant lady, and when 18, she married Emannuel Forakis, a marine veteran of the Iwo Jima battle of World War 2, and had her first child, Linda, with him. She had another child, Andrew, with her second husband, Steve Mills, who she proudly bragged she picked out among all of the good-looking "beach boys" who worked in Miami Beach hotels in the 1950s. Mr. Mills was also a policeman. In her third marriage, she took on the challenge of raising three step-children, two of whom were failing badly in school. After a few years of her tudoring them after school, they all caught up in their grades.
Ms. Mills was always an independent and hard working woman, often carrying two jobs in order to provide for her children and herself. She was an accomplished typist and secretary and often worked the retail floors of department stores like Macy's as a second job.
She had no fear of anything or anyone at all, and when walking home alone from a bus stop after dark would hold onto a letter opener in her purse in case any man tried to attack her. Her last job was at Toronto's Pearson International Airport as executive assistant to the Chief of U.S. Immigration Services, which she held from 1986-1994. She was an exceptionally patriotic American with an exceptional sense of humour. When someone called her to ask why they were not being allowed into the U.S.A., her usual response was; "If you don't know, nobody does."
Ms. Mills was fiercely dedicated to all of her family and showed her love by always saying "yes, of course" to any request or need that came her way from any family member.
Burial Services provided by CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, 243 George St.,Arthur, Ontario 519-848-6872