Vasiliki “Vasso” (Panagou) Lazarakis, 86, of Child Street, Warren, Rhode Island, formerly of Cranston, died on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Crestwood Nursing Home in Warren, Rhode Island.

There will not be a funeral service, but a Celebration of Life to be held at a later time.

Vasiliki (Panagou) Lazarakis was born on August 22, 1939, in Athens, Greece, the middle child of three, to Georgios and Hrisoula (Bousiou) Panagou. She grew up with her older sister, Mina, and younger brother, John. Vasiliki had fond memories of going to parties with them when they were young. She also loved playing volleyball with her friends, for hours on end, in the streets of her neighborhood.

As a young woman, Vasiliki's interest in fashion inspired her to become an apprentice to the woman who made the clothes for the Queen of Greece's court. Later, she scrimped and saved, and then left for America, by herself, to pursue her dream of becoming an apparel designer. Working during the days and going to Rhode Island School of Design at night, that’s exactly what she became.

In 1969, after a lovely courtship, she married the love of her life, Charles Lazarakis, of Providence, Rhode Island, and moved to Warwick, Rhode Island shortly thereafter. In 1970 and 1971, respectively, they had two children, Niko and Christina. Vasiliki put her career in apparel design on hold temporarily to raise her two children. In 1978, the family moved to Athens, Greece, where they lived for five years.

In 1983, the family moved back to Rhode Island, settling in Cranston where Vasiliki launched her apparel design business. She worked from home in her private studio. In the front room, her clients would come and have their fashion dreams made a reality. She designed and created the most beautifully constructed clothes, stage costumes, gowns, wedding dresses, and accessories, making every person she designed for feel like they were her only client. From the smallest alterations to bespoke wedding gowns hand-adorned with crystals, her work and spirit filled her clients with joy. We remember her sitting in her studio, whistling as she worked. Whistling to the birds in the backyard, her beautiful hands like butterflies.

Vasiliki would stay up late to help Christina learn her lines while Christina was in acting conservatory, and she would call everyone she knew to invite them to Christina's performances. She was also known for her delicious melomakarona and koulourakia cookies, working late into the night to make them for her family and friends. She never failed to offer food or snacks to every guest of the house and made the best loukoumades.

Vasiliki also loved to dance. She was a proud, lifelong Greek and could be found at the head of many a Greek traditional dance line, often teaching someone the steps, always waving a handkerchief, and laughing. It is one of the fondest memories her family has of her and how they will always remember her. She was also a very proud member of the Greek Church of the Annunciation (Cranston, Rhode Island), and always loved going to services and annual festivals there.

The Lazarakis family would like to extend a deep appreciation to the staff at Crestwood Nursing Home (especially Olivia and Donna), Harmony Hospice, and everyone who has provided care to Vasiliki. They will be forever grateful for the support and care shown to Vasiliki and to their family.

Vasiliki is survived by her son, Niko C. Lazarakis; her daughter, Christina Lazarakis; her sister Mina (Panagou) Bertamini; and her son-in-law, Christopher A. Bacon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Georgios and Hrisoula (Bousiou) Panagou, her brother, John Panagou, and her husband, Charles Lazarakis.

She will always be loved and greatly missed.