CORSO, Maria Corso

Peacefully on April 28, 2026 at the tender age of 104. She has gone to join her beloved husband, Giovanni (deceased 1995), as they dance the waltz through the gardens of heaven.

Lucia Maria Corso (née Susin), passed away while surrounded by her loving family. Maria was born on February 21, 1922 in Fonzaso, Italy to Anna and Luigi. Maria was the beloved wife of Giovanni, proud mother of five children, Nonna to six grandchildren and Bisnonna to nine great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Gabriella (Domenic), Robert (Teresa), Steven (Phyllis), Luciano (Lynn), and Loretta, her grandchildren, Paul (Christina), Sabrina (Alex), Andrew (Kristina), Christine, Kevin (Jessica), Michael (Chelsey), and great-grandchildren Daniel, Michael, Peter, Logan, Avery, Naiya, Olivia, Benjamin and Liam.

She will always be in our hearts. The bells in Fonzaso are tolling for her.

Mia Storia

Maria’s life was a miracle in so many ways. She spent the first six years being raised by her mother in the small village of Fonzaso in the Italian Alps as her father worked abroad in the Pennsylvanian coal mines. The only wealth they enjoyed was the magnificent beauty of the surrounding mountains. After enduring the difficult times of WWII, the borders were opened and she accepted a factory job in Switzerland, even though the transportation there meant travelling in the livestock cars of the train. Times were tough, but their resilience was tougher. From there, she worked as private cook in Turin, Italy (the joyful memories of which sustained her throughout her entire life). She then returned to her hometown to marry the love of her life, Giovanni, further to his many love letters to her. In 1956, Giovanni came to Canada in hopes of finding a job and making a better life for his family. Months later, Maria followed (six months pregnant) with a 5 and 6-year old on the SS Andrea Doria ocean liner. This ended up being the second-last voyage of the ocean liner before it sank due to a collision that same year. During this voyage, Mom was unwell and in quarantine below deck, resulting in her two small children being cared for by friends from her village. As they disembarked at Ellis Island, she was met by Giovanni . . . and so their new life in North America began.

It was filled with many hardships, but they also had the joy of welcoming three more children. Mom’s greatest joy was being a wife and tending to her family, especially with her cooking. Home was always filled with her presence and the beautiful aroma of food slowly simmering on the stove. Their lives were busy with work, raising children and, of course, the garden! The backyard was turned into a heavenly orchard where they generously shared their harvest with many friends. They kept the celebratory traditions of Italy alive by forming a social club (Club Bellunesi) with their fellow “paesani”. Mom and dad were usually one of the last ones left on the dance floor at each festa. After 46 years of marriage and the passing of Giovanni, mom showed us her courageous side by moving into her own condo at Villa Giardino, where she made an independent life for herself. There, she thrived: painting, making new friends and, of course, always continuing to cook.

She spent the last few years living with family, until she was hospitalized due to a fall. After an 11-month stay, where all the staff fell in love with her, she gradually started slipping away. But, as she said, she was ready. During that stay, not a day went by where she wasn’t surrounded by family members. It was very clear to her how much she was loved…right until the very end. She waited for the last of her five children to arrive, he kissed her and said “Mamma, we love you” just before she took her last breath.

The love of all her family will endure into eternity and now we are blessed with another guardian angel in heaven praying for us. She is at peace in the loving arms of God.