Virginia Michaelides

Virginia (Ginny) Joannou Michaelides was born to Peter and Rose Joannou on January 10, 1933. As a young man, her father, Peter, a native of Famagusta, Cyprus married Rose, a young Greek woman. Ginny, as she preferred to be called, was their only beloved offspring.

Ginny was raised in San Leandro and after graduation from San Leandro High School she worked for an insurance company while also working at her parent’s restaurant in Oakland. Shortly after, her cousin introduced her to a young man, Simos Michaelides, who had travelled from Famagusta, Cyprus to study architecture at UC Berkeley but decided instead to go to medical school at UCSF. They married on February 7, 1954 and celebrated 52 happy years together.

Ginny and Simos welcomed four children: John (Mary), Debbi (Paul), Pete (Betsy) and Steve (Mike). She will always be remembered and loved by them as a warm, loving mother and matriarch and as the fun loving, sassy, and much beloved YiaYia to Megan Nottingham (Damien Alvarado), Ali Nottingham Cowden (Marshall Cowden), Brett Nottingham, Jessica Michaelides Anton (Minas Anton), Jamie Michaelides Radish (Kevin Radish) and Kelsey Carlton (fiancé Nicholas Pascual). She is also survived by her beloved niece and goddaughter, Myra Menicou, Lisa and Mike Nelson, and Chris and Sharon Menicou. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Simos, her parents Peter and Rose Joannou, Sophocles and Alexandra Menicou, Andy and Barbara Menicou, Michael Menicou, and her precious nephew Billy Menicou.

After Simos’s retirement, he and Ginny loved to travel extensively throughout the world. They had many exciting adventures along the way. But what they loved most was spending time with the family, especially with the grandchildren. She was so loved by them, and her loss will be felt deeply.

A Trisagion will be held at Grant Miller- John Cox Mortuary at 2850 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland on Thursday, May 20th at 7 pm. Funeral Services will be held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue in Oakland on Friday, May 21 at 11 am.
 

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