Nunzia Green

Nunzia Green, renowned amateur chef and force of nature, passed away on June 22 in North Vancouver, following a long battle with lung cancer. She leaves behind her husband, Bill Green; children Cristina Green and Daniel Green and their spouses Wade Cherrington and Beverly Tang; grandchildren Joie, Petra, and Soleste; and a freezer full of frozen delicacies. She will be remembered for her commitment to the community, her generosity, her sense of humor, and her joie de vivre. She lived the way she cooked, valuing quality above all else.

Nunzia was born Annunziata Angelucci in Genazzano, Italy, as an only child to Ben and Italia Angelucci. Although she moved to Canada at the age of nine, she kept a strong connection to her Italian culture and to family who remained in the region surrounding Rome.

Her first home in Canada was Ocean Falls, British Columbia, a small community with a remarkable swimming tradition. As a young girl, she became a strong and accomplished swimmer and was part of the Ocean Falls swim-team culture that would soon become famous. She later moved to Trail, B.C., in 1964, where she attended high school.

In the fall of 1968, she moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia, where she would later earn a degree in Commerce. It was there that she met Bill Green, in the Fort Camp residence where they were both staying. They were married September 2, 1972, rightfully overshadowing Game 1 of the Canada-Russia Summit Series. They took their honeymoon in Europe (mostly Italy) after Nunzia’s graduation from UBC in 1973, the first of many trips to Europe together.

Together, they built a life that took them from Calgary to Houston and back again to Calgary before they eventually settled in Vancouver in 1979. Deep Cove became her beloved home, the place where she would spend the rest of her life. During their first years in Vancouver, she spent her time at home with Cristina and Daniel. It was also during this time that she discovered her love of Volvos and Costco, often in combination when visiting Costco locations across North America during their many road trips.

Professionally, she returned to work in 1988 in the office at Eastview Elementary School. She worked in schools across North Vancouver, including as secretary of Larson and Sherwood Park, and business manager at both Carson Graham and Sutherland. She believed deeply in the importance of strong public schools and was known for her willingness to go the extra mile for students, families, and staff.

She brought a similar energy to volunteering in the community. Over the years, she was involved with the Deep Cove Parent Participation Preschool, the Mount Seymour Soccer Association and the North Shore Multicultural Society. Later, after retiring, she spent time volunteering at the Harvest Project. She also had a great appreciation for music and was a strong supporter of the Vancouver Symphony.

She was a passionate chef and lover of great food. She believed deeply that great food comes from letting quality ingredients shine, and that an 8-hour drive is never too long to get the best tomatoes in BC. Italian food was her religion, but she took great pride in learning how to cook foods from all cultures and traditions. Her Christmas baking was legendary, both in its diversity and sophistication. She had a legion of fans around the world.

Over the years she made more than 20 trips to Italy, primarily after 2001. She was close to her family in Genazzano and Cave, and especially to her cousin Nives Angelucci in Rome. Bill and Nunzia were particularly fortunate to spend two months in Italy in 2025, where she got to experience daily life in Rome, rather than just visiting, as she had always wanted to do.

Nunzia’s hospitality and generosity left their mark on thousands of people. She always rooted for the underdog and fought for people in need. Her force of will to make the world a better place will be remembered and will live on through family, friends, and acquaintances whose lives she touched.

A celebration of life will be held at Boal Chapel in North Vancouver on August 29, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Harvest Project or The Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and remember to only buy parmesan that has been aged for at least 24 months.