Nicholas ‘Nick’ Vavaroutsos

Nicholas ‘Nick’ Vavaroutsos, age 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 2, 2024, at his home in Sparta, Greece.

Nick was born November 30, 1932, in Sparta, Greece, the 3rd of 6 children born to Elias and Evangelia Vavaroutsos. He emigrated from Sparta to Ottawa in 1951 along with his father and two older siblings.

Eventually the entire family moved to Ottawa. Nick worked at the local brickyard with his father and eldest brother Kyriakos (Koolie). He joined the U.S. Army and, after completing his service, moved to Chicago where he worked as a bartender. He married Eleni ‘Helen’ Bayiokos on November 15, 1958, and the pair moved to Ottawa when Nick, his brother Koolie and brother-in-law William (Bill) Kanellis purchased the Green Mill Restaurant. Bill and Koolie left to pursue other ventures, but Nick remained a steadfast presence at the iconic local eatery for 36 years. In addition to the restaurant, Nick also partnered with his brother Ioannis (John) in the automatic and self-service car wash business. Nick retired from the Green Mill Restaurant in 1995 to spend some well-deserved time off with his wife, children and grand children. Nick enjoyed watching his beloved White Sox, tending to his citrus and olive trees in his native Greece and his vegetable garden in Ottawa. Always outgoing and social, he loved going into local businesses, whether in Ottawa or in Sparta, and taking care of his errands in person so that he could interact directly with people. He was loyal to both his native country and his adopted homeland and did not tolerate anyone speaking ill of either. Nick was also fiercely devoted to family, both immediate and extended, and would do whatever was in his power to help a family member or friend in need. He was an icon of strength an integrity and his presence will be sorely missed.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents, Elias and Evangelia Vavaroutsos, his brother and sister-in-law, Koolie and Laverne Vavaroutsos, his sister and brother-in-law Maria and Bill Kanellis, his brother-in-law Jim Hondros and his brothers-in-law Nick and John Bayiokos.

Nick is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen, his daughter Angie, his son Louis, his grandchildren Elizabeth, Christo and Niko, his brother and sister-in-law John and Kathy Vavaroutsos, his brother and sister-in-law Tom and Maria Vavaroutsos, his sister Toni Hondros, his sisters-in-law Ourania and Mary Bayiokos, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Ecard donation notifications can be addressed to nickandhelenv@yahoo.com

Visitation: Saturday, September 21, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ottawa Funeral Home, 1111 LaSalle Street, Ottawa, Illinois

Funeral Service: Saturday, September 21, 12:00 p.m. Ottawa Funeral Home, 1111 LaSalle Street, Ottawa, Illinois

Internment: Following Funeral Service at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery, 1601 Ottawa Avenue, Ottawa, Illinois

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/