Andrea Olymbia "Bia" (Peroulis) Reyes
Marriages
Cardenio Reyes - September 22, 2002
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - April 11, 2008
Andrea Olymbia "Bia" Peroulis Reyes, a lifetime resident of Moffat and Routt counties, died March 10, 2008, at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker. She was 45.
Bia was born Feb. 12, 1963, to Andy and Argie Peroulis in Craig. She was called by her full name, Olymbia, until she was about three years old. After that, she made it clear that her name was Bia. It was with that same assurance and straightforwardness that she would live her 45 years.
She grew up in Routt and Moffat counties and graduated from Moffat County High School in 1981.
Bia attended and graduated from Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo., where she studied equestrian science. Her love of horses surrounded her lifestyle. She moved back to Craig to work side-by-side with her parents, running their sheep operation. Bia was like the son Andy never had, and she could outwork just about any man. It was at the Wool Growers convention in Glenwood Springs in 1994 that Bia went up against 20 men in a timed sheep-hooking contest and beat each of them. Needless to say, there were a few bruised egos when she received the first-place plaque.
On Sept. 22, 2002, Bia married Cardenio Reyes, from Puerto Cisnes, Chile. Together, the couple worked the ranching life. Those who knew her best knew she was happiest and most full of life when outdoors with the animals because of her neverending love of horses, dogs and sheep.
Bia loved her family and friends and was surrounded by them constantly. In 2000, Bia, her sister Toni and her mother, Argie, started a catering business called "Two Sisters and a Mom Catering." There, they enjoyed cooking and sharing recipes and stories all hours of the day and into the night.
They ran their business even when Bia and Cardenio had their first daughter, Trochalis (Hali). It was when the couple found out they were expecting twins that changes had to be made. Their twin daughters, Cristiann and Argyro (Titi and Loula) were born in June 2002.
One of Bia's admirable passions was hunting. It was Bia who called on the phone while cooking for hunters and asked to chain up a pick-up truck to pull out a stuck truck filled with guides and hunters. And the day was memorable when she shot a legal bull while still wearing her kitchen apron.
In October 2002, Bia was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her and her family's lives would never be the same. She fought an unbelievable battle with the disease that finally claimed her life. Bia was loved by so many people. She was a real girl - brave and a fighter. Her strength will be remembered for many, many years to come.
Her love of family was unmatched. She enjoyed cooking, baking, reading, hunting, watching basketball, road trips, Oprah and Cabela's. Bia and Cardenio were blessed with three darling daughters who were their mother's daily sunshine.
Bia is survived by her husband, Cardenio; daughters Hali, Cristiann and Loula; parents, Andy and Argie Peroulis, of Craig; sisters Stell Peroulis and her husband, Hans Mortensen, of Clark, and Toni Raftopoulous and her husband, Steve, of Craig; nieces and nephews Andraea and Nicolas Hessenberger and Parker Mortensen, of Clark, and Jorgiea, Andrew and Zach Raftopoulos, of Craig; mother-in-law Irma Opazo Castro, of Puerto Cisnes, Chile; Cardenio's brothers and sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.
She also is survived by the families of Gus Daskalakis, of Salt Lake City; John Peroulis, of Craig and Grand Junction; and Paddy Garver, of Arizona, Utah and Montana. Also, her great-aunt Helen Katras and cousin Molly Pappas, of Bayside, N.Y.; Helen Tsandis and Theothosia Trochalis, of Limnos, Greece; and Effie Evangelos, of South Africa.
Bia was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harry and Stella Peroulis and Antonios and Olymbia Trochalis; and uncles John and Tony Peroulis and Kosta Trochalis.
Services were held March 14 in Craig. Memorial donations may be made to the Bia Peroulis Reyes Memorial Fund for her daughters, in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., in Craig.
