Obituary of Dan Giancola
Donato (Dan) Elesei Giancola, 72, of Thorold, ON, passed away on December 17th, 2020, at the Niagara Health System Hospital in St. Catharines, ON. Born in Limosano, Molise, Italy, on August 24th, 1948, he was the son of the late Gennaro and Teresina (Bonadie) Giancola.
Dan lost his father when he was seven years old, and he relocated to Thorold, Ontario, Canada at the age of twelve with his mother and brother in 1961, while their sister stayed back in Italy with her husband and tended to their farm. On November 28, 1968, he married Sandra M. Martini and although they parted ways after 32 years of marriage, a mutual respect was always maintained. They had three sons together. Dan was employed at General Motors in St. Catharines for 31 years and retired in 2001.
Dan is one of the co-founders of the Thorold Soccer Club along with his good friends Archie Fiorillo and Dominic Rossetto. He loved to play and coach soccer and is well known throughout the Niagara area for his 30+ years as a volunteer coach and for his contributions to the game. Dan built the first goal nets for the mini soccer age group in Thorold out of wood and fence materials, as well as the players seating areas and coverings at the Club Italia field in Niagara Falls. Dan’s community contributions didn’t end at the soccer field, he was known to help friends, family and the elderly with home renovations such as concrete work, tiling jobs, framing, gardening and snow removal. Dan would never allow anyone to pay him for his services, that was the kind of man he was.
Dan was a private man who loved his family and our large family parties and dedicated himself to his family at all times. He loved the Lord and was a tremendous example of the Golden Rule « Do unto others as you would have them do unto you ».
Dan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 52 years old, he battled the disease on a daily basis and he won every day. It never stopped him from performing his daily exercise routines, his gardening tasks which he loved, cooking and cleaning and visiting family. He never once complained that he had this illness, he dealt with it, that was our father. Dan lived on his own until one week before he passed, he was diagnosed with end stage stomach cancer at that time. People may say « how can a man who exercised regularly, ate incredibly well, never smoked or abused alcohol can have these issues », we say this is what allowed him to live in peace at home and continue his daily tasks until the end the way he wanted it.
Dan is survived by his brother, Antonio (Angelina) Giancola, his three sons, Dan Jr. (Christina) Giancola, Tino (Chanda) Giancola, and Joe (Amy Rocco) Giancola; three grandchildren, Skylar Giancola, Christian Giancola, Brooke Giancola, as well as several nieces & nephews who were like his children, and several cousins. Dan is predeceased by his father Gennaro Giancola, his mother Teresina (Bonadie) Giancola, his sister Maria (Giuseppe) Giancola – Del Gobbo.
Relatives and friends will be received by appointment at BOCCHINFUSO FUNERAL HOME 2 Regent Street, Thorold on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 from 1 – 4PM and 6 – 9 PM. Please call 905-227-0161 to make your appointment. Per the Province of Ontario COVID regulations – visitation attendance is limited to 30% building capacity during appointments. Attendance will be monitored to maintain capacity and physical distancing for the health and safety of our staff and guests. All guests attending the visitation must bring and wear a mask. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 21 Queen Street South, Thorold on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Cremation will take place after the funeral and Dan will be entombed privately at a later date.
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2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Dan Giancola 2020..
Décès pour la Ville:Thorold, Province: Ontario