PASQUALI, Lucia - We are sad to announce the passing of Lucia Pasquali on December 15, 2020 at age 90. It was 2 days after “Santa Lucia” – her name-saint day that she held dear.
She was born Lucia Pen, on January 29, 1930 in Azzano Decimo, a small town in northern Italy, one of 6 children in a simple farming family. Early on, she strived for bigger and better things, traveling to faraway Rome as a teenager to work as a housekeeper.
She met our father, Olivo Pasquali, and they were married in 1954. Dad went off to Canada to start a new life, and to later send for mom and Luciano to join him in 1956. They travelled across the Atlantic on the Andrea Doria, which sank soon after on its ill-fated final voyage.
Life in Canada was hard – the cold, not knowing the language, not having many friends, struggling to make ends meet and tending to a growing family that now included Dennis. Lucia worked in many jobs, often at night – including as a banquet hall waitress, factory worker, and shoe repairer, to name a few. Her favourite was being a cashier at Buns Master bakery, where she was able to socialize with everyone who walked in.
Mom’s health did decline over the past few years with a diagnosis of esophagal cancer. We are thankful that she is now at rest in a better place. We are also grateful for all the wonderful caregivers that supported her and our family during these times. You are all angels.
Lucia Pasquali will be missed by many; notably her sons Luciano and Dennis, daughters in law Teresa and Mary, and grandchildren Gian-Pietro (pre-deceased), Christina, Adam (and Jennifer), Jonathan (and Melissa) and Kayla (and Ermanno).
But she will be missed most of all by her loving husband of 66 years, our dad – Olivo, her lifelong partner, who looked after her every day with so much devotion.
Rest in peace, mom.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.
There will be a private service held on Thursday December 17, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. Due to COVID restrictions, we do not wish to obligate anyone to attend and risk their health.
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