Tula Chiburis Berry

TULA CHIBURIS BERRY

April 23, 1926 – June 10, 2025

Tula Chiburis Berry, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend to many passed away peacefully on June 10, 2025, in Mission Viejo, California, at the age of 99. She was born on April 23, 1926, to Leonithy Chiburis and Kiriakula Rigopoulos, immigrants from Mavromati, Greece. She was the seventh of eight children and was the last surviving member of her family of origin. Tula leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and service.

Tula was a guiding light to her three children -- John Berry, Stephen Berry and Paula Berry Smith, instilling values of faith, persistence, resilience, and hard work in them. Her family expanded to include 8 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Her family was the light of her life. She often told everyone of the immense joy that her children and extended family brought her. One of her deepest sadnesses was the death of her great-grandson (Braden Hales) who tragically passed away at age 23.

Tula was extremely proud of her Greek heritage. She was renowned for cooking and hosting Greek dinners for friends in her home and groups of as many as 200 at church, and she was especially famous for her baklava. A highlight of her life was living with relatives in Kalamata, Greece for a year after she retired.

Tula was a highly skilled medical transcriber, and often said that she was successful in that career because most medical terminology is based in the Greek language, which she spoke fluently. A year after retiring at age 65, multiple doctors called her, begging her to come back because they could not find any transcriptionist as skilled as she was. This sparked her entrepreneurial spirit and she launched her own medical transcription business which she continued until she retired for good in 2009 at age 83.

Tula entered the workforce in 1943 as a transcriptionist for the U.S. government during World War II, so she was not able to pursue her education at that time. In 1974, she took time off from her medical transcriptionist career, applying for and being selected to be a Head Resident (Dorm Mother) over 242 young men at Brigham Young University. One of her proudest accomplishments was earning an Associate degree from BYU in 1977.

Born and raised in the Greek Orthodox church, Tula studied the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for about a year and was baptized a member of the church in 1955. She was a devout member of the church and dedicated her life to her faith. She cherished her calling as an Ordinance Worker at the San Diego Temple of the church where she served weekly for 17 years. Prompted by her temple service, she became devoted to genealogy work. She identified literally thousands of living and deceased relatives, and prepared volumes of records of her roots and family history.

Tula is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren who aspire to her legacy of love, faith and service. The memory of Tula will remain etched in our hearts until we meet again.

All are welcome to join us in celebrating Tula’s life on June 28, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sun City Ward Chapel located at 29725 Bradley Rd., Sun City, CA, 92586, followed by a luncheon in the cultural hall at the chapel. Interment will take place at the Murietta Valley Cemetery after the luncheon.