My father Giorgio passed away Wednesday at 11 am February 14 on Valentines day at Toronto Western Hospital after a courageous war that he kept defeating for 12 years… however he lost the last battle.  In his final moment death became the greatest of all human blessings. No more suffering.

Fortunately we are left with so many blessings. The passing years have left my heart so full of memories and thoughts of growing up in such a happy home.
With his constant guidance and love he made sure we did not struggle as he did, to overcome the battles he faced in life.

My dad was a vibrant soul who literally lit up the room  when ever he walked in. Decency, reliability, honour, dignity, respect: these are all qualities that my father not only held in high esteem, but practised every day during his time on this earth. He was a serious and and generous man, he could never resist the opportunity to share a laugh with friends and loved ones.  He cherished family get togethers…. Each one was like a Christmas celebration.

Pappa was the oldest Child Of Pasquale and Caterina Marcello. He had 7 siblings. Isabella, Rosario, Rosa, Anna, Domenica, Onofrio and Lina. He was born in Pizzo Calabro in a tiny village in southern Italy, 

My father met the love of his life Brunina Purri in1958. True love. For 60 years she was the air that he breathes and the beat in his heart.

They were married shortly after and life brought them to Toronto in 1963.

Life blessed them with 3 children, Caterina, Pasquale and Vittoria. Life for them was not about becoming important or having riches, life became about seeing how much difference they could make in the lives of their children, family and friends.

My Dad would tell me the most important job I will ever have is to be the best father you can ever be. He would often say  “Tu lo capisce quando tu sei padre”. You will understand when you are a father. Of course he was right.

Our earliest lesson as children, we were taught 2 pedi in uno scarpo. Keep 2 feet in one shoe. We had no idea what that really meant, other than I better behave.

Even in his last days we watched as the respect and dignity he showed to his Doctors ….he would show to the cleaning lady…. or the volunteer dropping off juice and cookies. From when I was 16 and driving, each time I left the door, he would warn me, drive carefully, the words were said to keep me safe and those around me safe. In his last days, that message was repeated still to my children and I.

My Father had many names. I learned early he had another name.
To many friends from southern Italy in our community of paesans, mostly everyone knew him has Zio Giorgio. Meeting strangers, they would ask who is your Father? I would respond Giorgio Marcello. The next question would be “U Pizzitano”, I would nod yes… all of a sudden, I wasn’t a stranger anymore. All of a sudden my dad wasn’t Giorgio Marcello he was known as Zio Giorgio. Instantly I became family, not friends and was shown so much love and warmth. This is who my dad was.

My dads loved with so much passion. I recall as a child he would always surprise my mom. We always had to stop at a little bakery to get her favourite cheese cake. My mom would smile because her husband would always think of her. My Dad was smiling because she was smiling. My dad thought it was the cheesecake. My mom really didn’t even like the cheesecake. Could she tell him? No.

One constant in my dads life, he wanted you to sit beside him. He would just hold your hand while sitting on the couch either watching politics on tv or soccer, only to be shortly interrupted when Nonna Bruna would bring in espresso.
In his final days, Spiritual Care at Toronto Western came into my Dads room and found us doing just that, holding hands with Nonno. She mentioned how in these final moments it is comforting to do just that. I felt like telling her, if you wait for the last moments in life to do that, you have missed the point of life. Another lesson we learned from my dad early on.
My dad was so caring. Seeing my mom tired the last 2 weeks, he would say” take Mamma home, she needs rest. When she finally would go home to refresh. It would take moment for him to ask where was Mamma, he wanted to hold her hand. This was my dad

We will have to go on, but you will always be near.

Our hearts feel and know what our eyes will not be able to see anymore.
I will do my best to be half the Man, half the Nonno you were. Love Pasquale