It is with heavy hearts, yet with unwavering faith in God’s promise of eternal life, that we announce that Nino Giammarino went home to be with the Lord on July 26, 2026, in Kelowna, BC, at the age of 83.
Nino was born on July 1, 1943, in Fossacesia, Italy, to the late Donato and Francesca Giammarino. In the winter of 1954, he immigrated to Canada with his family, settling in Calgary, AB, where he began the life of hard work and generosity that would come to define him.
Nino will be lovingly remembered by his wife of sixteen years, Marilyn; his daughter, Aimee Giammarino; his stepchildren, Justin and Kala (Kevin); his grandchildren, Emma, Sarah, Oliver, and Jack; his siblings, Jean, Noreen, Marie, and Janet; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Kyle Kirby.
A man of deep and simple joys, Nino found peace in his greenhouses, where his hands coaxed figs, oranges, and lemons from the soil, a quiet echo of the sun-drenched land of his birth. He loved to travel and have adventures. He loved watching sports and cherished the game of hockey. But above all, he loved people. Outgoing and endlessly good-humoured, Nino never met a stranger, and he could strike up a conversation with anyone.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Nino’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca.
A Funeral Mass, open to all who wish to attend, will be celebrated on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10:30 am, at St. Charles Garnier Parish (3645 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna, BC), with Father Gerald presiding. A livestream will be provided by St. Charles Garnier Parish for those unable to attend in person (see below). And a light lunch will be served after Mass in the parish hall.
May Nino’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
