John Kouretas

Our beloved Yianni passed away suddenly on July 26, 2025, while vacationing in his homeland of Greece. He was 80 years old. Yianni was the devoted husband and soulmate to his wife of 56 years, Sophia. He was a loving father and father-in-law to his two sons, Chris and Tom, and daughter-in-laws Carey and Cheryl. He was also a dedicated and proud Papou to his granddaughters Bella, Yana, Lola, and Lucy. He leaves behind his brother Pete (Mary), sister Vasho (Pano), and sister-in-law Elaine and her husband, Dan. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Chris and Georgia, and his sister Yanoula.

Yianni was born in Lykochia, Greece on March 5, 1945. He came to the United States from Greece in July 1969 to pursue his dream of building a better life. He started as a busboy, dishwasher, and cook at Zorbas restaurant in San Jose, working for his cousin Pete Kouretas. Shortly after arriving, he was introduced to Sophia Paraskevopoulos in Salinas, California, in hopes of arranging a marriage between the young couple. The spark that began that day grew into five decades of a prosperous and loving marriage and life for Yianni, Sophia, and their family.

After marriage, Yianni purchased a restaurant in Willow Glen with his brother Pete in 1976. Hard work and perseverance helped establish Johns XLNT Foods as a cornerstone in the community, bringing together friends and families for over 40 years up until his retirement in 2019. His restaurant was a labor of love, and Yianni treated all his customers and staff like family.

Yianni loved spending time in his vineyard and his garden at home. He traveled the world with his wife, Sophia, taking his children and grandchildren everywhere he went.

Though he is no longer with us, Yianni’s memory will live on in the stories we tell, the values he passed down, and the love he gave so freely. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered—always.

Please join us for the Trisagion Services on Friday, August 8th, 2025, at 7:00pm. at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose at 1260 Davis Street.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 9th, 2025, at 9:00am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The interment will follow at Los Gatos Memorial Park on 2255 Los Gatos-Almaden Road in San Jose.