Vassili "Bill" Leou

Vassili “Bill” Leou, 81, of Georgetown, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, with his family by his side after a long fight with cancer.

Bill was born in a small village, Othos, on the island of Karpathos, Greece, to Maria and Stavros Leou. At just 18, he left home in search of a better life, first travelling to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), where he worked on the railways, and later to Brooklyn, New York. There, he learned the craft of jewelry making and eventually opened his own diner.

During a summer trip back to Greece, he met Irene, the love of his life. Together, they built a life centered on family, hard work, and taking care of those around them. Together, they eventually settled in Georgetown, Ontario, where they ran the Georgeview Open Kitchen restaurant from 1990 to 2011 alongside family members John and Poppy Cambouris. Bill was a familiar face there, always ready with a warm smile and an easy welcome.

In his later years, Bill spent as much time as he could in Greece, a place that never left him, and with his children and grandchildren, who meant everything to him.

Bill had a way of putting people at ease. He worked hard his entire life and always put his family first. More than anything, his goal was to see his children succeed and to support them in any way he could. He was a worrier by nature, but that only reflected how deeply he cared for the people around him. He never asked for much in return.

He loved music and singing, and had a natural gift for writing poetry and lyrics in Greek. He carried his love for Greece with him wherever he went and shared it proudly with his family every chance he got.

He is survived by his wife, Irene; his children, Chris (Katerina) Leou, Stacey (Minas) Mandis, and Stavros Leou; his grandchildren, Sofia, Eirini, and George; his brother, George (Mary) Leou; his father-in-law, Chris Cambouris; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place on Monday, April 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home, 11582 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown, Ontario.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m. at the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias, 1785 Matheson Blvd, Mississauga, Ontario.

A sincere thank you to the healthcare providers at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital and to the volunteers at Cancer Assistance of Halton Hills, who helped make his cancer journey more manageable.

If you wish to honour Bill’s memory, donations may be made to the Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada at https://aamac.ca/donate or to Cancer Assistance of Halton Hills at https://cancerassistance.org/donate/