Eleni Galani

Eleni Galani entered peacefully into her eternal home at the age of 88 April 18, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation: 3 to 5PM Sunday, April 23 at Lake Shore Funeral Home.

Funeral Service:  11AM Monday, April 24 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 617 N. 17th St. in Waco.

Burial will follow at Rosemound Cemetery, 3201 S 12th St. in Waco. Following graveside service, the family will provide lunch at Alpha Omega, 929 Franklin Ave. Waco, TX.

Eleni was born in Kalymnos Greece and experienced tremendous loss at the age of five when her father died while the Nazis were bombing the island. She spoke of her father often and the love he had for her being the youngest of the family with seven siblings.

Eleni married John Galanis in the 50’s and moved to the Island of Rhodes, Greece where she raised two children. She is preceded in death by her husband who passed in August of 2021.

Eleni was known for having a strong work ethic and triumphing out of poverty.

She worked so hard and instilled in her children the importance of hard work.

Eleni is known as Yiayia to her grandchildren. She was so full of love for them. She was even concerned that everyone needed to eat and joked with her grandchildren about who was her favorite the day before she passed. All her grandchildren were her favorite and was so blessed to be present for her last granddaughter’s wedding which took place last year in May. Also, Eleni was blessed to witness the double baptism of her two youngest great grandchildren at St Nicholas.

Even though Eleni came here to the USA to live, her heart was back home. She often spoke of her siblings and grandmother as if they were still here today. She battled with Alzheimer’s and other medical problems but her ability of singing Greek Orthodox hymns to the end was untouched. Her faith in God was strong and this carried her to her eternal home. Now she will see her loved ones gone before and her beloved husband.

She is survived by her daughter, Maria Galani; son, Aris Galanis and wife Kelly; beloved grandchildren, George Chaviaros and wife Maria, all of Waco, Eleni Brini and husband Danny, from Connecticut, Yianni Galanis and wife Brianna, Dorothy Lentis and husband Filippos from Waco, Lenna Hernandez and husband Erick of Pflugerville; and great grandchildren, Jovial and Aletheia Galanis, Kalliroi and Anthony Lentis and Marilenna Brini.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Nicholas church, would be an honor to the family.