Maria Giannakos: 112 Years of Life, Family & Greek Olive Oil

At Ilias and Sons, our belief in Greek extra virgin olive oil comes from more than a business. It comes from our family, our land and a way of life passed down through generations.

One of the most meaningful stories behind that belief is my mother's. Maria Giannakos lived to the remarkable age of 112. Her longevity was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II, who sent her a letter of acknowledgment. To our family, however, the greatest measure of her life was the love, generosity and traditions she shared with us.

A simple life rooted in olive oil and tradition

Maria was born Maria Anagostakos in 1912, in a small village south of Sparta, Greece. She grew up through turbulent times and faced hardship from an early age. After third grade, she left school to help with farm work, as many children in large farming families did.

Despite those challenges, her life was full of optimism, family and fresh food. Extra virgin olive oil was part of that everyday life, not a passing health trend.

The Giannakos olive groves and the family table

At 22, Maria married my father, Evangelos Giannakos, and moved to Vasilaki in the Peloponnese. There she became part of the life of the Giannakos olive groves, with ancient trees that our family has long described as reaching back a thousand years.

She worked hard in both the home and the olive business. She made sure our family enjoyed fresh, natural foods, and extra virgin olive oil was always part of our meals. Our family also had a tradition of taking olive oil on its own, a practice that continues today.

For Maria, food was inseparable from caring for people. Preparing a meal, tending the land and sharing what we had were expressions of the same values.

A heart of gold: sharing food and olive oil

My mother was known for helping others. During the occupation of Greece in World War II, Greeks and Germans came to our family for food, and she never turned anyone away. She shared meals and our family's olive oil with people in need.

Her generosity extended into village life. After Greek women gained the right to vote in 1952, she became president of the women's voting organisation in her village. She was a woman who worked for her family and also took responsibility for her community.

From Greece to Canada, without leaving tradition behind

After my father died of cancer at 56, our lives changed. Over time, four of Maria's five children emigrated to Canada. Eventually, I too left Greece and brought my mother with me.

Maria lived in Ottawa for the next 50 years, but her heart remained in Greece. She travelled back every two years, returning for the olive harvest. She valued traditional harvesting, including using a stick to knock the olives down by hand.

When she returned to Canada, she brought bottles of homemade extra virgin olive oil for family and friends. As more people wanted to share in that oil, the demand helped lead to the birth of Ilias and Sons.

112 years of family, memories and connection

At her 100th birthday, Maria celebrated with dozens of family members. At that milestone, she had 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Those numbers describe that celebration, not a current count of the family.

In her later years, she continued sharing childhood stories with her great-grandchildren. Her memories connected them with a world very different from their own, and with the family and food traditions that had endured.

After her passing at 112, Maria was laid to rest beside Evangelos in Vasilaki, Greece. Her journey had come full circle.

What we carry forward from Maria's life

When people ask about Maria's longevity, I think of the whole life she lived: homegrown food, olive oil at the table, daily work and movement, family ties and generosity. She experienced real hardship, so it would not be right to describe her life as entirely stress-free.

We cannot attribute her 112 years to one ingredient. Her story is a personal family tribute, not scientific proof that olive oil guarantees a longer life. What we can say is that Greek extra virgin olive oil belonged to the way she nourished and cared for her family.

Our Mediterranean diet guide explores the broader food pattern and its research. For an earlier family remembrance, read our tribute to Yia Yia Maria.

Greek olive oil inspired by our family tradition

Today, 7Thirty high-phenolic organic Greek extra virgin olive oil carries forward our connection to the Peloponnese. Its early-harvest Koroneiki character is bold and peppery. Learn more on our 7Thirty education page.

Our Gourmet Greek Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Original Blend combines Athinolia and Koroneiki olives for a fruity, grassy profile with a milder peppery finish. It offers another way to bring Greek olive oil to everyday meals.

These oils reflect our continuing family tradition. They are not a promise of Maria's longevity in a bottle.

Her legacy lives at our table

Maria's legacy is larger than any product. It lives in how we welcome people, how we share food and how we care for the traditions entrusted to us.

At Ilias and Sons, we honour her 112 years by keeping that connection alive. Every shared meal is an opportunity to remember what mattered most to her: family, generosity and a table with room for others.