Looking for Giallourakis Family Info

[Giallourakis Descendents]

Hello!

We are John, Ellen and (son) Jason Giallourakis. We will be coming to Symi Island, Greece on a family heritage trip in September (staying at the Stavros House) and are very much in need of assistance. We will arrive in Symi on September 23, 2008 (via the Anes Ferry from Rhodes), departing on September 26, 2008.

John�s father, Constantinos (Gus) Giallourakis, was born on Symi Island on August 3, 1903, 1904 or 1905, the oldest of three children. His birth certificate in this country reflected August 3, 1903, but we were told by him at one point in the past that his actual birth date was August 3, 1905 and he recorded it as 1903 when immigrating to the United States in 1924. Constantinos�s father was John Giallourakis. His mother was Irene Zaroudis (or Zaroudes or Zarouthes �unsure of the spelling) Giallourakis. Constantinos (Gus) had a brother, Nicholas and a sister, Anastasia. They (John, Irene, Nicholas, Anastasia) are all buried in a cemetery on Symi Island. Constantinos (Gus) died in this country in 1998 at the age of 95 (or actually 93?) and is buried here.

Please note that there has been some controversy about the actual spelling of the last name. On some immigration documents, the name was spelled Yiallourakis and then Giallourakis, and somehow ended up here in the United States many years ago as Gallourakis, so we�re not actually sure what it was in Greece but we believe it to be Giallourakis.

We are hoping that you are aware of someone in Symi who would be willing do some research for us so that our time there can be well spent. We actually need someone who can research the courthouse records to determine where the family residence on Symi Island was located (believe it was sold anywhere from 1965 to 1975 after Irene Zaroudes Giallourakis died), as we would very much like to see the family home.

Also, if someone could research burial records/obituaries and determine where John, Irene, Nicholas and Anastasia are buried, we would very much like to visit the grave sites, as well.

Constantinos (Gus) was very active in the Greek Orthodox church and was still an active cantor when he died in 1998. If there is any possible way to determine which church on Symi he and the family attended, that would be so very much appreciated.

If the individual conducting the research could actually provide a guided tour to the above locations following our arrival, that would also be helpful.

Although we know of no living relatives in Symi, since the families appear to be deeply rooted there for generations, we presume there may actually be some, though we have no way of confirming this.

If you would please e-mail us and let us know if there is someone on the island willing to conduct the necessary research to assist us, provide a guided tour, as well as the fee for their services, we would be most grateful.

Thank you so much, and we very much look forward to hearing from you!!

John and Ellen Giallourakis
6762 Clubhouse Dr., West
Canadian Lakes (Stanwood), MI 49346