Westbrook Restaurant Mourns Sudden Loss Of 'Beloved Mother'

WESTBROOK, CT — A "staple of the family business" and a "beloved wife, grandmother and friend to all" has died. Anthoula “Anna” Miniatis Valsamis was 66 years old.

Leon's Pizza Restaurant posted about her sudden passing with the "heaviest of hearts."

"We are still learning how to navigate life without her humor, wisdom, kindness and love," the restaurant posted. "Please bear with us as we are very much in mourning but also recognize the shock that this news may create."

To fulfill Valsamis' final wishes, the restaurant will be closed Feb. 6 to 17. The restaurant will reopen Feb. 18.

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.