Obituary of John Constantin Chryssoulakis

John Constantin Chryssoulakis

At St. Joseph’s Hospice, London, on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. John is survived by his loving wife and partner of 35 years, Colleen (O’Bright); his sisters, Connie (Andris Balodis) and Cathy (Tom St. Amand); his brother-in-law, Gary O’Bright, and his sister-in-law, Sue (Chuck Nisbet); his nieces, nephews, and their partners: Marie and Mark; Erik and Sarah; Alex and Adrienne; Christopher and Natalie; Patrick and Laura; Benjamin and Catie; Laurel and Hanson; Mike and Jill; Jason and Erin; Kara and Matt; Chris and Kelsey. John is also survived by many great-nieces and great-nephews.

John was born in Sarnia in 1960 and was predeceased by parents, Michael and Mary Chryssoulakis, and in-laws, Bill and Muriel O’Bright. John was a man of many passions. Colleen and he loved to travel and together they covered many thousands of kilometres by plane, ship and in his favourite cars, his Mustang Cobra and his vintage Thunderbird. He liked to follow hockey and was a  devoted fan of the Montreal Canadiens. An avid golfer, John enjoyed playing with a variety of people but especially with his best friend, John Black. He also enjoyed a “really good” book. He was proud of his career with TD/Canada Trust for 34 years. John loved his family and his pets and was always giving and extremely generous. He appreciated a good joke and enjoyed telling them to his many friends over the years.

Born with a sparkling sense of humour and wit, John could work a room and make a friend easily. This talent was further developed in the many years he performed as a bass guitarist with different bands. This was a pleasant side occupation throughout his adult life. John’s love of music was evident from the time he was two years old when he began singing both the lyrics and the accompaniment to his parents’ recordings of Broadway musicals. This was done while he was wearing a pair of 1960s headphones the size of his little head. “Happy Birthday” was never sung in the Chryssoulakis household without a three-part harmony with his sisters. We are all broken-hearted by the early passing of this exceptional man and will feel an empty place where he once stood.

Special thanks and admiration to Gary O’Bright, John and Colleen’s valued companion and devoted sister Cathy and brother-in-law Tom; Dr. Daniel Pepe; the Oncology staff and doctors at Victoria Hospital; the St. Elizabeth nurses and the caring and empathetic staff at St. Joseph’s Hospice, London who carried him gently to his final rest.

As per John’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Cremation has taken place. A private family and close friends gathering will be held at a future date.  Anyone wishing to make a donation, please contact one of the following: Animal Outreach, London,  Sarnia & District Humane Society, St. Joseph’s Hospice Sarnia-Lambton or St. Joseph’s Hospice London, or The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer, London Health Sciences Centre.