Obituary Overview
Leo Joseph Casavechia
Casavechia, Leo
Joseph, age 97, of Dartmouth passed
away peacefully in his home on September 23, 2018.
Born in Woodside on July
6, 1921 to Italian immigrant parents Rudolph and Josephine Casavechia, Leo is
survived by his wife Donis (Prest); his brother John (Margaret); sisters-in-law
Margaret and Glenna; daughters Cathy Bemister (Gary), Jane Bradshaw (Jim), and
Patti Casavechia; step-children Darcy Glawson (Glenda), Denise Owen (Dereck),
Kimberley Zinck (Craig), and Krista Gillis (Alan); son-in law Clifford Gillis
(Judy); grandchildren Robert (Vanessa), Mark (Olesya), Diana (Matthew), Steven,
Christina, Mitchell (Susan), Rhiannon (Zach), Chelsey (Justin), Kaelin, Bryson,
Megan, Shelby, Logan, Blaike, Kirkland, and Hunter; great-grandchildren Lila,
Justin, Joel, Sienna, Claire, and Gage; and many nieces and nephews. He was
predeceased by his parents, first wife Myrtle, sister Rita Palmer, and brothers
Walter, William, and Daniel.
Leo was a patriot, a
leading businessman and a generous supporter of his community. During World War
II, he served in Canada’s Merchant Marines as an engineer on the Imperial Oil tankers
where he saw a large percentage of lives lost. For his service, he received the
1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Pacific Star, and the 1939-45 War Medal. In 1949,
Leo and his brother Walter started a small gravel business with two trucks and
one employee which went on to become L.J. Casavechia Contracting Ltd, making
various impacts across HRM, including the taxiways at the Halifax International
Airport. Leo continued to build the company into one of the largest in the
region, eventually employing hundreds of local people. For 38 years, he was
involved in the maintenance and upgrading projects of the Dartmouth Imperial
Oil Refinery, as well as the construction and maintenance of the Texaco
Refinery in Eastern Passage. Among millions of dollars in contracts carried out
over the years, most notably he constructed the 24-inch pipeline going under
the Canal system from Westphal to Burnside Industrial Park.
Throughout his life, Leo
was a dedicated Toronto Blue Jays fan, member of Sundowners International, and
belonged to both the Dartmouth Curling Club and Dartmouth Yacht Club where he
and Donis were honourary lifetime members. He was a founding member of the
original St. Thomas More Parish where he helped with the building and
fundraising for the church. He was also involved in the fundraising for the
current St. Thomas More Parish.
He shared his prosperity
with the community he loved with very generous contributions to the Dartmouth
General Hospital, the North End Dartmouth Boys and Girls Club, and the Junior
Sailors program at the Dartmouth Yacht Club along with many other meaningful
projects and services in Dartmouth. For his outstanding citizenship he was
named Dartmouth’s 1994 Citizen of the Year and was honoured with Her Majesty’s
Golden Jubilee Medal in 2012.
A visitation for family
and friends will take place Friday September 28th, 2018 from 7-9pm
and funeral service Saturday September 29, 2018 at 11am in the
Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main Street, Dartmouth. In lieu of flowers,
donations can be made to the Dartmouth General Hospital or Canadian Cancer
Society.
The family would like to
extend a sincere thanks and appreciation to the VON, Palliative care, and
support staff, especially Soleil, Anieka, Robin, Maedell, Jody, Kurt, Anthony,
Russell, and Paulo, for all their help, support, and loving care during the
past months.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Leo Joseph Casavechia 2018..
Décès pour la Ville: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia
