Popular Restaurant To Celebrate Mother's Legacy With Complimentary Cocktail In Westbrook

WESTBROOK, CT — Leon's Pizza Restaurant is celebrating the birthday Wednesday of "our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Anthoula ‘Anna’ Valsamis," who recently died at 66.

"While she is no longer here with us to celebrate, her presence is felt in every corner of our restaurant," Leon's posted on Facebook. "Our hearts are heavy, but we are so grateful for the beautiful life she lived and the incredible impact she had on everyone who walked through our doors."

The restaurant is offering a complimentary cocktail Wednesday in her honor, celebrating "her spirit, kindness, and the joy she brought to so many."

"Please come raise a glass with us as we remember and celebrate the amazing woman she was and always will be," the restaurant wrote.

The restaurant was closed from Feb. 6 to 17 as the family grieved the loss. Leon's reopened Wednesday.

Valsamis was born on the Greek island of Kefalonia. She was married for 48 years to her husband and "together they worked tirelessly to achieve the American Dream," according to her obituary.

Valsamis was known "for her vibrant and giving nature, she was the epicenter of all our lives." She was also known for her giving spirit and was part of the family business for the last 42 years.

"From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank everyone who came out on January 31st to pay their respects to our beloved wife, mother and grandmother," the Valsamis family posted. "It was truly touching to see how many people attended and how deeply she was loved by so many. To those who could not be there, we are equally grateful for the overwhelming love and support our family has received over the past few weeks. It means more than words can express, and it speaks to the incredible community that our family is a part of and has helped to contribute to."

Leon's Pizza Restaurant is located at 41 Boston Post Road. In addition to pizza, pasta, and salad, the restaurant serves a number of Greek specialties like gyros and souvlaki.