Flossmoor mom of six writes autobiography
By Susan DeMar Lafferty slafferty@southtownstar.com February 22, 2013 11:02PM
Christina Tompulis
Updated: March 25, 2013 6:01AM
When life presented her with a sink-or-swim challenge, Christina Tompulis always opted to swim. And many times she swam against the current.
“I’ve always been a non-conformist,” said the Flossmoor resident, who persevered through life’s obstacles with humor and God’s grace.
Tompulis now hopes to inspire others by sharing autobiographical insights in her book, “Diary of I Am a Nobody,” published by Pennsylvania-based Dorrance Publishing.
“She was just a regular person fighting for what she thought was right all her life,” her son, Andre Tompulis, of University Park, said of the book’s title.
Christina Tompulis said she grew up on the West Side of Chicago “very poor in possessions but rich in love.” She remembered scouring the alleys for cardboard to use for the soles of her shoes.
She married and had six children but later divorced her husband.
“You don’t divorce a Greek man,” she said, but she did and raised six children without his financial support.
“She wanted to give her kids a normal life despite what was going on at home,” her son said. “She was trying to give us a sense that life was OK. She kept us going with her strength and determination to fight for what she believed in.”
Despite an unstable home environment, “my mom was able to get through it with love and laughter,” her daughter, Jennifer Tompulis, of Homewood, said. “She has a tremendous spirit.”
Christina continued to fight against the odds when she was fired as a legal secretary and sued the law firm for age discrimination — and won.
“It was about principles, not money,” she said.
“When it comes down to principles, that’s what my mom is all about,” Jennifer said.
The author also endured medical issues, surgeries and more recently, a stroke.
But throughout it all, “humor is her lifeline,” her daughter said. “Through all her hardships, she has found a way to see the humorous aspects.”
And after all these hardships, writing the book came easy for her, Christina said.
“It can be helpful to anyone who reads it,” she said.
“Diary of I am a Nobody,” a 92-page paperback, is available at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon.
