Born in 1921, Gilda grew up with six brothers and sisters in Grimaldi and Malito, Italy. After a respectful courtship under the watchful eyes of her parents, Gilda married the love of her life, Aurelio Guido Giardini.
In the mid 1950s, with only general directions, a few dollars, and not a word of English, Gilda shepherded three daughters, Maria, Renee, and Cristina, to Vancouver, where Guido and other relatives had settled. They travelled by ship, docking at Halifax’s famed Pier 21, and then by rail across their new country, Canada.
Gilda and Guido found work and a home in East Vancouver’s Commercial Drive neighbourhood. Two sons soon arrived, twins Mario and Tony.
Gilda adored Canada, calling it, “una terra fortunata.” An intelligent woman of integrity and force of character, had she been provided with education and choices, Gilda might have become anything she wished. Instead, she devoted her energies to her children and grandchildren. She took delight in their achievements, well beyond what she and Guido dreamed.
Family and those fortunate enough to be “adopted” into it were Gilda’s greatest joy. Gilda had a sterling memory and told stories of her childhood amid the suffering and deprivations in southern Italy in the early part of the last century. Notwithstanding, she was proud of her Italian heritage and joyous and generous with her Italian cooking, the produce of her vast garden, and the adages she had learned in the old country.
Gilda was a gifted cook, turning simple ingredients and the bounty from her garden into meals we will always remember, washed down with Guido’s homemade wine, and accompanied by advice, spirited discussions, and lots of laughter.
Gilda taught us to live boldly, speak up, do our duty, and follow our convictions. Mamma insegno`, con parole e con esempio, che la vita e` dedizione all’onesta, al lavoro, e alla famiglia.
We thank our extended family, neighbours, and friends who supported Gilda with kindness and understanding, including Renee’s late husband Reinhart, Fran, Karyne, Franca, Antonietta, Pietro, and the doctors and staff at Royal Columbian Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospice and the staff at ABC Home Support Services.
Our father Guido and Renee’s husband Reinhart predeceased Gilda. Mamma is cherished and will be missed by her daughters Maria, Renee, and Cristina, her sons and daughters-in-law, Mario and MaryAnn, and Tony and Anne, and her grandchildren, Arlo, Joseph, Nicholas, Sofia, Zachary and Julia.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 24th, 2020 at 11:00am at St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church, 3860 Triumph Street, Burnaby. Entombment at Ocean View Burial Park in the Abbey Mausoleum, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation or St. Michael’s Hospice.
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