Maria Yiannis Koussertari was born 2nd February 1918 in Yialousa Cyprus . She was the 5th child of Nicholas and Chrysi Kallatta. During those early years of her life, she was a great entertainer she would often sing to her father and school friends and they would always gather around her as she would bring fruit and sing to them as they ate.
As years passed by Maria learnt to become a professional seam-stress and
Became very talented in the work that she did. She married Yiannis Demetrious Koussertari on the 6th October 1940 at the age of 22. At 23 years if age She bore him his first child Dimitris and a 2 years later his second child Chrysi.
In 1946 Maria and Yiannis came to England for a better life. There Yiannis served as a head chef in Hotels and Maria continued her seam-stress work.
Who ever Maria met she would always welcome to her home, a kind and gentle character that helped endless people known and unknown to her in what ever way she could. Maria was a pillar to all that knew her.
Maria gave birth to a further 4 children, Nicolas, Florenzo, Julia, and Joanna.
Maria first settled in Holborn, later in Islington where sadly her husband Yiannis died in 1967.
His wishes were to die back in Cyprus and to be buried in the family grave. Whilst Maria was in Cyprus there was a terrible accident with a charcoal barrel used for heating the house it caused a lot of deadly fumes, and Maria ventured to save her youngest child Joanna and ultimately got burnt in the process and became unconscious. With little help from the Greek hospitals she returned to England for medical help after her husband’s burial.
Maria was now left alone to raise and provide for her family. During her life Maria had gone through a number of operations and showed great courage and endurance. She always managed to pick herself up and quickly got back to her tasks in life.
The family house in Islington was eventually sold as all her children married and left home except for her youngest Joanna who lived with her mother. They moved to Palmers Green where there she spent the last 20 years of her life.
Maria loved her flowers and plants and you would often loose her in her garden she had magical green hands and could make anything grow. Her sister Lianni would visit her regularly who lived close by and together they passed the time doing things together.
Maria had a good life, her family would often visit and she would catch up with all their lives. She doted on all her grand children and great-grand children with love and pleasure and was very proud of them all.
Last Christmas Maria suddenly became unwell and was admitted into North Middlesex Hospital , whilst in hospital she contracted the virus C-Diff. Due to
This virus she became weak and frail. This and the combination of antibiotics destroyed Maria’s immune system over a period of 6 months and finally her body functions gave up. Maria died 29th of May.
She will be remembered for her genuine love of people, enjoying life and her children and grandchildren, always welcoming relatives from abroad to stay with her and Joanna and just loving life. Her wishes to all were to be kind to people and to forgive quickly and make amends so that there would be peace and harmony around us.
To Maria, Mum, Grandmother and Great Grand mother we would like to say that all your family and friends are here today to say farewell, but you will never be forgotten.
