Friday, February 7, 2025
2:00 - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)
Friday, February 7, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 pm (Eastern time)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
9:30 - 10:30 am (Eastern time)
October 12, 1925 – February 3, 2025
This week, we have lost a part of ourselves—a link to a very different world, where the centuries old social order was still deeply felt, where honor and integrity were often the only possessions one had. These values defined who he was. Remigio was born into a humble but proud agricultural family of mezzadri in S. Vito al Tagliamento, in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy, during the turbulent political and economic decade following The Great War. His youth was spent toiling in the fields and vineyards, punctuated by the sagre, or festivals, that marked the passing of the seasons. Although the work was hard, there was great joy in the company of extended family. He experienced firsthand the intolerance and fear of the fascist years, followed by Nazi occupation and Allied bombs. He bore witness to the horrors of war, the fall of empires, and the profound changes that came with the emancipation of agrarian society in post-war Italy.
From the ashes of the old world arose the promise of a better future. Armed with nothing more than an unwavering work ethic, he reluctantly left his beloved homeland and arrived in a cold Toronto in November 1951, honoring a commitment made to his brother Giuseppe, who had emigrated the year before. A promise made, a promise kept. Like many of his compatriots, Remigio found purpose on the construction sites that helped transform Toronto from a quiet provincial backwater into a thriving metropolis. It is difficult to travel through the city today without seeing the legacy of his life’s work in the many churches, schools, and hockey rinks central to every community. Equally important as the countless buildings constructed by the family masonry business over the years were the opportunities it provided to countless workers, allowing them to support their families and build new lives in a foreign land.
During his 70-year marriage to his beloved Maria, his family grew and prospered—four sons, Silvano (Annamaria), Frank (Leanne), Eddy, and Alex; grandchildren, Nicoletta, Julian, Delana, and David; and great-grandchildren, Giulia, Francesca, and Erica. His was an unpretentious life. His gentle manner, humility, and kindness left a lasting impression on those he touched, embodying resilience, family, and the timeless joy found in purpose and the shared warmth of loved ones. Today, as we remember Remigio, let us celebrate not only the 99 years he lived but the enduring spirit with which he lived them. May his memory be a source of inspiration, reminding us that a life centered on love and family is a life truly well lived.
Friday, February 7, 2025
2:00 - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)
Ward Funeral Home - Woodbridge Chapel
Friday, February 7, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 pm (Eastern time)
Ward Funeral Home - Woodbridge Chapel
Saturday, February 8, 2025
9:30 - 10:30 am (Eastern time)
St. Margaret Mary Church
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