Obituary
Print Obituary
It is with great sadness that we have to say goodbye to our beloved Mario. A wonderful husband, father, brother, friend, and wonderful human being. he will forever be loved and will always be missed.
Mario was born in the small town of Montefredane, in the province of Avellino, in the region of Campania, in Italy. As a child, he played and worked on his mom and dads farm , Antonio and Virginia Spagnuolo,with his brothers Sylvestro, John, Nick, Cosimo, and his sister Nina. On June 17, 1951 , his oldest brother Sylvestro emigrated to Canada to pursue a better life. On February 4, 1953 , his second oldest brother John, emigrated to Canada to join Sylvestro. His Father Antonio then emigrated to Canada in September 1953.Mario’s other 2 brothers ,Nick and Cosimo, emigrated to Canada on March 05 , 1954. After being separated from some of his family, Mario emigrated to Canada with his sister Nina and his mother Virginia , landing in Halifax on December 20, 1955. They made their way to Vancouver by train in time to reunite with his family for Christmas.
Mario was a shoeshiner in downtown Vancouver before going to hairdressing school in 1963 to become a hairdresser. In one of the first salons he worked at , was another hairdresser named Mario. This caused some confusion so they decided to call Mario , “Marco “. Marco owned and operated many salons, his first being La Roma coiffures on Cambie st. In the late 1960’s. Marco opened his own hairdressing school in the late 1970’s at Gilmore and Hastings in Burnaby called “ Marco’s school of hair design, where he enjoyed teaching hundreds of students for around 25 years. Marco also worked for the BC hairdresser association for many years, judging competition’s and travelling all over BC inspecting salons for permits and business liscences.
Mario met his first wife Joan and got married in 1967. Mario and Joan had 2 sons. Dino was born on July 10,1967 and Marco was born on May 20,1969. Mario enjoyed attending his sons soccer and lacrosse games as he had a passion for sports.
Mario met his second wife Edith when she came to get her hair done at Marco’s school in 1991. He protected her and supported her for the next 29 years.Mario and Edith enjoyed spending time at their cabin , at the Glen, in Washington state and shopping at local shops nearby.
Mario enjoyed travelling back to Italy many times, going on a few cruises up and down the Pacific, and visiting the Okanagan where his son Marco and his brother Cosimo live.
Mario ( Marco ) will be greatly missed by his wife Edith ( and family );
son Marco ( Kelly ); brothers John ( Ginetta ),Nick (Alba ),Cosimo (Rosa);
sister Nina ( Tony ), many loving nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at Our LADY OF SORROWS church in Vancouver on Friday March 20, 2020. Viewing at 11:00 and service at 12:00.
Condolences can be made through the Wiebe and Jeske website or through the Province news paper.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mario Spagnuolo August 21 1940
March 6 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique