Parcourez la nécrologie de Raffaele Tony Picarelli 2024 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles

Obituary
Raffaele (Tony) passed on gently at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital surrounded by his wife Maria (nee Rizzuti) and his children Giuseppe (Joe) and Mafalda (Noella) as a result of cardiac complications.
Tony was born in Roggiano Gravina, Cosenza, Italy, the first born to Giuseppe Picarelli and Mafalda (nee Guarnieri). Even at an early age, Tony exhibited a free spirit and a love of comradery. Always looking for fun, he was known to cause comical situations by throwing pebbles and breaking the full water jugs that the ladies of the village carried on their head or sneaking and eating cakes reserved for special occasions much to the consternation of his mother.
Occasionally his free spirit and “bon vivant” nature had him labeled as a friendly and well-intentioned delinquent, but he is fondly remembered by many, many friends and family in Italy.
He was especially close to his brother Aldo, and he maintained a tight relationship with his cousins, aunts and uncles in Italy despite having immigrated to Canada. He and Maria would frequently send Joe and Noella to Italy to get to know the culture and to strengthen the bonds of family.
In 1965 Tony and Maria Rizzuti were introduced to each other via Tony’s cousin Luigi Fabiano and the two began corresponding via letter as Maria was in Canada and Tony was in Italy.
Tony packed his bags and immigrated to Canada – without knowing English, without a job or a source of income. Three months after arriving in Canada, he married Maria. Over 600 people attended the wedding. He would frequently bump into people on the street who had attended his wedding that he did not know.
He began working in the Rizzuti family’s Italian Bakery located on Speers Road in Oakville. Times were challenging at the start, and Maria would help Tony learn English and a different culture. Tony took his driver’s license in French because French was close enough to Italian that he could understand the questions and select the answers.
Tony had high aspirations and he left the bakery to seek alternate employment. He applied for a job as a corrosion inspector with Union Gas. Again, Maria assisted him in studying for the Energy Board Certification program because his English was still weak. Ultimately, he passed, but it was often said that Maria should have also received the certificate because she had to learn the technical requirements in English and then translate them into Italian. Tony stayed with Union Gas until his retirement.
On Christmas day 1966, Tony and Maria were blessed with a rambunctious, “capricciosa” little girl Noella, and again on November 13, 1968, a spunky little boy Joe.
Tony enjoyed socializing, getting to know neighbours and being part of the community. Together with his cousin Luigi, they coached for the local rep soccer league for many years where they significantly and positively impacted the development of young people. He was pleased when a young person would come up to him and say, “you coached me soccer”.
Grounded in family values, Tony and Maria would do what ever it took to promote Joe and Noella. Noella was passionately involved in piano lessons, and Tony would drive her to lessons regardless of the weather conditions or location. At competitions he could place the first, second and third place contestants before the announcements. Likewise for Joe, he would take Joe to the Oakville Aquatic club early in the morning for training and again for hockey tournaments across the province. Transporting family to sporting meets, lessons, practices, is a trait he continued on with into retirement. He often spoke of how much he enjoyed watching and being involved in the lives of his grandchildren. It was his passion to support and guide his grandchildren as they reached for their full potential.
Nothing provided Tony with more joy than when the family came together for an event or celebration. No detail was too small or inconvenient, provided everyone was together for a meal, a card game, and a smile or joke. He was so proud and happy of the close-knit family he and Maria had built.
He enjoyed traditions and right up to his 83rd birthday, the family would get together to turn 15 bushels of tomatoes into sauce, or to roast 10 bushels of peppers.
Nothing could stop his annual January to March winter pilgrimage to the sun. Planning for the winter migration would usually start in August. He was a regular at Boca Chica, Dominican Republic (DR) , where he developed many friends. People from Woodbridge and around the world would meet him in the DR and it was not unusual for him to receive a call from one of his “Sun Friends”.
His ability to love was boundless and when Joe and Noella married their spouses, he made them feel like they had always been part of the family. He was extremely proud of his grandchildren and was over the top to learn of their exploits, achievements, and milestones. No ask was too big, or inconvenient when it came to supporting his grandchildren.
Tony is survived by his wife Maria (nee Rizzuti), and his son Joe (Linda) and his daughter Noella (Frank) and by his grandchildren Francis (Katie) Joseph (Julia), Alessia, and Tonia (Andreas).
He was a light in our lives, and while he is gone, he will never be forgotten.
Special thanks to all the staff of the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital who were so thoughtful and caring during his brief stay there.
Donations to the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Foundation in lieu of flowers are appreciated.
Viewing is at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home in Oakville,64 Lakeshore Rd. W., June 24, 2024 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Funeral Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Morden Road Oakville, at 10:00 am, June 25. Internment Glen Oaks 9th line Oakville at 11:30 June 25, 2024 following by a gathering at the St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, 1280 Dundas Street Oakville.

2024

Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home

Décès pour la Ville:Oakville, Province: Ontario

avis deces Raffaele Tony Picarelli 2024

nécrologie Raffaele Tony Picarelli 2024

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