IARUSSO, Antonina Iarusso (née di Pasquo)

Antonina passed away peacefully with her family by her side on July 5, 2025, at age 87. Dedicated wife to Raffaele for 68 years and loving mother to Angela (Franco Iaderosa) and Luciano (Elvira Di Gesù). Affectionate Nonna to Nina (Graham Kozak) and Marco Iaderosa (Rachel Doa), and Amanda (Patrick Osland), Melissa (Giuseppe Morcinelli), and Erica Iarusso. Precious bisnonna to Julia and Genevieve Kozak, Massimo Osland, and Roma Morcinelli. She will be missed by her younger siblings Maria (Gino Di Ciocco, 2005) and Renzo (Silvana Ionata), and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends both here, and in Italy and France. Antonina is reunited with her beloved parents Michele (1987) and Esterina Brunetti (2006) and older sister Angiolina (2008; Felice Del Papa, 2001).

Born in Agnone, Molise, Italy, Antonina carried with her the strength and traditions of her mountainous hometown throughout her life. From a young age, she tended to the lands and livestock alongside her family. Married at age 19, she hand-built a home for herself and two children while her husband worked abroad. In 1972, she immigrated to Canada with her children to reunite with her husband, and build a home and family life, bringing with her the same fierce work ethic and resilient spirit.

Settling in Windsor, she found employment as a seamstress at Sportex. Yet her true passions were always at home—she cultivated a lush garden with many fruits and vegetables, and lovingly prepared traditional recipes, teaching them to her children and grandchildren. Her hallmark dishes of Zuppa Santè and pasta fatta in casa (like cannelloni and sagne taccùn) will be especially missed by her family during the holidays. Her grandchildren never left her home empty-handed, always given a plastic bag filled with frozen meals and pagnottini to enjoy. She was passionate about crocheting blankets, and in cooler months, she crafted wines and salsiccia, preserving age-old flavors and family memories.

It was always important to Antonina to keep alive the customs, values, stories, and recipes of her birthplace, which her five grandchildren proudly carry on and will pass down to the generations to come. Forever missed and never forgotten, her memory will always live on in our hearts. Nonna sarai sempre nei nostri cuori.

If so desired, donations in Antonina’s memory may be made out to the Windsor Regional Hospital – Cardiology Program.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at The Windsor Regional Cardiac Centre for the care and compassion shown to Antonina.

Visitation will be held at Families First South Windsor (3260 Dougall Ave) on Monday, July 7th, 2025, from 2-5 p.m. & 7-9 p.m. Parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Angela Merici Parish (980 Louis Ave) on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Entombment to follow at Heavenly Rest Cemetery.

Memories and notes of condolence may be shared at Families First South Windsor.