According to Proto Thema sources, her death occurred several days ago but was kept a closely guarded secret by her family. The news leaked unofficially only today, shortly after a small circle of relatives and friends said their last goodbye during a private cremation ceremony in Ritsona.

Gioulaki had withdrawn completely from public life in recent years, despite a long and celebrated career in television, film, and theatre. She granted no interviews and made no public appearances. Her only child, Despina Dimopoulou—whom she had with fellow actor and late husband Kimon Dimopoulos—similarly avoided the spotlight. When rumors about her mother’s health surfaced last January, Dimopoulou firmly denied, emphasizing the family’s commitment to privacy.

That devotion to privacy explains why neither the death nor the funeral was publicly announced; no official statement has been issued so far. The actress’s nephew, TV host Fotis Sergoulopoulos, maintained silence as well, missing his morning show on ERT today, reportedly to attend the funeral.