Don’t cry because life is over…..Smile because life happened!
Lucia Stillo (nee Confletti) age 79 passed away peacefully on Friday, December 10, 2021 surrounded by her family, at the Dorothy Ley Hospice.
The beloved matriarch of the family, she is survived by her husband Bruno, her three children and spouses, Alex (Janice), Adriano (Connie), and Patrizia (Patrick). Her grandchildren Roberto (Melissa), Sofia (Zach), Zachary and Justin, and great grandchild Leonardo.
Lucia was born in Campoli, Italy on April 28, 1942. Born into a family of 12 brothers and sisters, her outspokenness, and zest for living made it easy for her to be seen and heard. This is where her story would begin, and when her adventures would come to life.
Her family moved to Rome, Italy when Lucia was two. Growing up in Rome she found her love for fashion. Before Audrey Hepburn, there was Lucia! Her flair for putting outfits together, gave way to many suitors, but only one that would steal her heart.
Lucia met Bruno at his home where friends would gather often. Here they played music and danced into the wee hours of the night. Lucia went with a friend, who had invited her. Being creative at stretching the truth, and knowing her parents would not let her go, she told a little white lie. This would become the turning point in her life. This little white lie would turn out to become a beautiful truth. This is where her love story began with Bruno. On that night of music and dancing, she said YES to a dance with Bruno. This dance would become the first of many.
Lucia and Bruno spent weekends together discovering the beautiful countryside of Italy, on his motorcycle. They had found in each other a familiarity of living life, instead of merely existing in one. Weekends were for dancing and music. They shared the love of laughter, and food with one another. Spending their time together, and enjoying life to the fullest, made them the envy of everyone.
When Bruno came to Canada, the realization of not being with Lucia scared him. Bruno wrote Lucia’s brother, to make sure that she would not go out with anyone else. Bruno knew without a doubt this was the woman he wanted to marry, to have a family with, and spend the rest of his life with.
In December 1961, a brave Lucia came to Canada on her own, to be with Bruno and become his bride. She braved her first flight from Italy to Toronto at the age of 19, with only a suitcase, her determination, and strength. She knew at an early age that hard work, and having set goals would give her the life she wanted. A life to be free to love, to work, to have a family, and to have a lot of fun along the way.
Lucia and Bruno were married on January 6, 1962 in Toronto, Canada. It was here on her wedding day that Lucia first saw snow. Lucia was a striking young bride, and her fairy tale had come to fruition. She was in a new country where she did not speak the language. She was a young bride, who would begin her married life living under one roof with Bruno’s family. As exciting and frightening it was, Lucia handled it all with class. This showed just how strong she was. Her love for Bruno and life, made it easy for Lucia to take everything in stride. This would become the stepping stone for her life here in Canada.
Lucia after marriage had a variety of jobs. It is fair to say that she excelled in all of them. She worked as a salesperson for Coppercraft and became their top salesperson, and was awarded a trip to Germany. She worked as a seamstress, and no matter what job she was doing, she enjoyed it and gave it her best. She made friends easily and was eager to help out when she could, and was always willing to try new things. She enjoyed getting to know her colleagues, and swapping recipes. Her love of food, mixed in with her love of people, made her the person that everyone wanted to be around. However, the one job she called her best and favourite was that of being a mother. Lucia’s greatest job was being a homemaker. She loved being in the kitchen cooking for her family, and friends. On many occasions she would bring people together. She always made time for people who were alone, and the dinner table was always surrounded by people she had just met, and quickly became her friends.
Lucia’s life was one of love and service. Her strong faith kept her positive, and she would seek out ways to help raise money for charities she became involved with. She was on the board of the Sant’Andrea Club. The Sant’Andrea Club was very near and close to her heart. Each year she worked tirelessly to help raise money, and because of her efforts, the family, and everyone she sold a ticket to, enjoyed a night of food, wine, dance, and laughter.
Through the years, Lucia enjoyed family gatherings, and vacations. She loved the sun, and the beach. Her travels took her all over the beaches of Italy, and the beaches of the caribbean. Her favourite vacations were the ones to Alcapulco, Hawaii, and her hometown in Italy. Whether it be with family or friends, Lucia always had a good time. She had the honour to hear the Pope say mass at the Vatican, in Rome, something she cherished and said would never forget. She shared this beautiful moment with Bruno and daughter Patrizia.
Lucia also loved to spend time with Bruno’s family in the States. Every summer with the family they ventured out to the annual picnic in Rochester, New York. Lucia would pack the family car with food fit for an entire city. She loved sharing her cooking and baking talents with the family. When you think of Lucia Stillo, you think modern day cook with a flair for anything goes. If it looks good, and tastes good, keep on eating it. Life is too short to worry about dieting. This is what was so real, and beautiful about Lucia. She didn’t care what anyone thought about her. If she had to tell you what she thought, she would tell you with absolute confidence, and certainty. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was a woman who loved to the fullest, lived to the fullest, and enjoyed a meal to the fullest. She is what we should all aspire to be. Be happy with who you are. Be happy to grab life by the horns. Lucia didn’t care to sit on the sidelines of her life, instead she participated in every aspect of her life.
As Lucia faced some of the most difficult challenges of her life, she did it with grace and dignity. Lucia never complained about being in a wheelchair for the last four years of her life. And when she knew she was dying, she took the news with strength and faith. When talking to Lucia you realized she was the same young woman at 79 as she was at 18. She had great hopes and dreams, but now they were for her family. She knew her time was coming near to an end, but it never stopped her to continue to love, laugh and stay positive. She loved Bruno, her children Alex, Adriano and Patrizia. She adorned her grandchildren, Roberto, Sofia, Zachary and Justin, and her great grandchild Leonardo. They were as she put it, the loves of her life. Her purpose to be strong. Her purpose to continue to fight. Her purpose to have hope and faith. She once told me that she never regretted anything about her life. She said she did everything she wanted to do. She was happy. She was satisfied. She said she couldn’t have asked for anything more from her life.
Lucia Stillo, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. We celebrate you. We celebrate your life. Thank you for giving us all the opportunity to have you in our lives. You taught us how to live a life by your example. To never give up hope, always have faith, love with all your might, and if you have given it your best, that is more than enough. To Lucia Stillo with love. We will carry you with us in our hearts, until we meet again.
“If there ever comes a day where we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” A. A. Milne
In lieu of flowers, your kind donations to support Dorothy Ley Hospice would be greatly apprciated by the family.
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Friday December 10th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Lucia ‘Lucy Stillo Friday December 10th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Toronto, Province: Ontario