Antonio Tony Paliani

To Antonio Paliani, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theatre of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Tony, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Tony really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

       His parents were Marcello Paliani and Pietrina Barletta. Tony was raised in Patrica, Frosinone. Even as a child, Tony had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention.

      Always a good playmate, Tony was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Tony managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Tony was raised with one sibling. He had one older sister, Amabilia.

      All of Tony's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Tony experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He enjoyed playing soccer with his childhood friends. In his spare time he liked to invent toys to play with and fun games to play. Unfortunately, his family was poor while he was growing up and he didn't have access to ready-made toys. He used his creativity to keep himself entertained when he wasn't assisting his parents with taking care of the farm animals and helping around the home. Tony's memorable achievements included surviving a childhood of poverty. While he grew up surrounded by extended family and close family friends, his life in Italy involved hardship and being poor really instilled a life-long appreciation of the small things in life. This appreciation fostered Tony's strong belief in the spirit of generosity. It didn't matter how little you had, sharing and assisting others when possible was always paramount. These strong values shaped Tony into being both an exceptional young man and adult. Right up until his final days, Tony believed in the importance of giving and the spirit of community.

As a young man growing up in Italy, Tony was required to participate in military training for approximately 14 months. This took place prior to him arriving in Canada in April, 1968. His short stint in military training was a memorable experience for him and provided him with a bevy of good stories he would share from time to time. Those 14 months were sometimes difficult for him and the time he spent in training further instilled his appreciation for the smaller things in life that brought joy.

Tony never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Tony to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Tony delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, as it brought him great pleasure to be surrounded by a wide but warm circle of close friends and family members. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Tony was always right at home putting on a show among his friends.

Tony utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Upon moving to Canada, he became best friends with Mario Evangelista in his early 20's. Tony also spent considerable time with Bruno and Gino Finateri. Bruno, Gino, and Tony shared a number of common interests but the biggest was their cars. Gino owned a red GTX, Bruno had a 1969 Roadrunner, and Tony owned a blue 1964 Chrysler. Each of them spent considerable time taking very good care of their vehicles as they prepared for meeting on Queen Street as often as they could. Tony, Bruno, and Gino were often joined by Nino Burzese as they frequently hung out on Queen Street, near the Courthouse. They referred to this common meeting spot as “The Office.” Soon after No Parking signs were erected at "The Office," Tony and the gang had to move their location further down Queen Street. Tony's circle of close friends quickly grew especially as his interests and hobbies continued to expand. Tony was an avid hunter and hunted with a variety of hunting chums over the years. Lately, these hunting trips were taken with his best friends including his son, Michael, Benny Blonda, Orlando Blonda, and Rudy Pagliaro. Tony was delighted when younger hunters such as his son as well as Mark Blonda and Mike Maida joined his hunting group. In addition to hunting, Tony was an active part of many social circles, and was very close with so many: Giuseppe Secondi, Carlo Filice, Mike and Maria Coccimiglio, Vince and Palmina Cirelli, and Sam Pileggi. Tony's brother-in-law, Otello Erme, was also one of his closest companions. Tony loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Tony very easy to approach. Tony was introduced to Lucy D'Addetta in November of 1971 by Bruno Finateri and Vicky Toma. Tony and Lucy dated for five years prior to getting married. On July 31st, 1976 Tony exchanged wedding vows with Lucy at Lady of Mount Carmel Church of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Shortly after they were married, their family soon expanded with the birth of two beautiful children. Michael Anthony was born on September 24th, 1977 and was later joined by his little sister Laura Marie on March 18th, 1981. Family played a critical role in Tony's life and he was always proud of his children. Tony would often tease Lucy that "the kids took after me." He was an exceptional father and took pride in leading by example. He taught his children the importance of friendship, commitment, respect, loyalty and forgiveness. No matter what was broken or what needed fixing, Tony was always there to help his children with their problems and look for creative solutions. Both Michael and Laura developed strong relationships with their father and these relationships continued to flourish even after both kids moved out of the family house and onto lives of their own. Even though they were out of the house, Tony and Lucy remained very close in both Mike and Laura's hearts.

Tony had the privilege of seeing both of his children marry. Michael married Leslie Socchia on May 29th, 2004 and Laura married Ryan Taylor on October 6th, 2007. Both weddings took place in Sault Ste. Marie. In preparation for both weddings, Tony held a stag for both Mike and then later Ryan at the Marconi Club. Mike's stag was so big the Marconi wasn't sure they had ever held one of such magnitude before. In addition to hosting a stag for both Mike and Ryan, Tony took special pride in making home-made wine to be enjoyed at both wedding receptions. So much of Tony's life was filled with pride, especially the pride he had in knowing that he and Lucy raised two truly wonderful children. In addition to being an exceptional father, both Ryan and Leslie would agree that Tony was a wonderful father-in-law. He had a special way of making you feel like you were always part of the family. He was accommodating, generous and kind with his time and attention. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and he did what he could to help and assist his friends and family.

      Tony was thrilled when he became a Nonno for the first time on September 10th, 2007 as the entire family welcomed Matteo into the world. He was equally delighted in becoming a Nonno for the second time when Nico was born on March 19th, 2010. Tony had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment and both of his grandsons knew that Nonno's attention and love was a very, very special thing. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Tony's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining both Michael and Laura and then later Mike's sons, Matteo and Nico. Tony truly enjoyed the joy and happiness his grandchildren brought to the world. He would often go to great detail to tell Laura about his most recent Matteo or Nico stories. He adored both of these boys and appreciated when he saw glimpses of what he valued in life in each of the boys--a sense of humour, the ability to have fun, the appreciation of a good meal. He was so proud of his grandsons.

      At work, as in life, Tony was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Tony liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Tony was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Tony's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Tony as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a steelworker. He was employed for 13 years at Algoma Steel. Due to an unfortunate injury he sustained while at work, Tony was forced into an early retirement. Despite this, Tony's first passion was always fixing vehicles. Shortly after his retirement, he indulged in this interest by tinkering with his own vehicle to learn as much as he could about cars and car maintenance and would help his friends and family members troubleshoot their own car issues when he could. He would soon share this knowledge and experience with his son, Michael. Their shared interest in vehicles and close bond helped to foster Michael's life-long interest in cars and trucks. As children, Laura often joked that she knew the names of more automotive parts than anyone else her age as Tony and Michael would often spend the dinner hour chatting about cars.

       Tony enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Tony liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were hunting; playing bocce both at the Marconi Club and the Soo 48 CWB; making and curing his own home-made meats such as salami, prosciutto, capicola, pancetta, and coppa as well as making incredible home-made wine from grapes every September. Tony was also very well-known for his love of canning--he canned a variety of items including but not limited to tomatoes, field mushrooms, lupini, giardiniera, artichokes, and olives. Throughout juggling his many interests, he was also a hobby mechanic and took exceptional interest in learning as much as he could about his own vehicles. Lastly, Tony spent much of every summer and early fall tending to his large vegetable garden. He took great pride in tasks that required a “do-it-yourself” mentality and loved to share the fruits of his labour with his family and friends. He approached all of his interests and hobbies with exceptional dedication and pride.

      Tony felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Tony loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Tony relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Tony never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included bocce and hunting. He was always very excited to receive a trophy (which happened surprisingly often) at the end of the bocce season. Tony was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Top on his list was soccer, especially following the Italian soccer team during the World Cup.

      Tony had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Tony's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Tony was an active and long-standing member of both the Marconi Club and the Soo 48 CWB. He played bocce with both clubs for decades and made several close friends with his team mates throughout the years. He was a familiar face around both establishments but the Soo 48 Club was very dear to his heart. Tony frequently helped his close friend, Sam Pileggi, take very good care of the Soo 48. Tony took pride in assisting with all things related to the Soo 48 and took great pleasure in spending most of his Sundays there with very close friends, spending quality time either playing bocce or cards.

      Naturally outgoing and generous, Tony was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Tony was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Tony earned a number of bocce trophies over the years. He was proud of his accomplishments with his team and enjoyed celebrating the end of each bocce season at the Annual Bocce Banquet. It was a time to reflect and acknowledge the success of the Club's teams as well as an evening to celebrate the end of the bocce season. This involved attending a banquet which, aside from New Year's Eve, was often the highlight of Tony's year. He took great pleasure in marking the end of the season in the company of close friends and team mates. Each banquet included an exceptional multi-course dinner, which he attended each year with his wife, Lucy. A night of dancing and general merriment followed the banquet dinner and Tony always loved attending these banquets.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Tony just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included his frequent trips to Patrica, Italy to visit his parents. Tony would often visit for upwards of 2 months at a time and he enjoyed the time he spent with this parents. He continued these visits until his father passed away in 1999. In addition to his individual trips, the entire family visited Italy in 1981, 1986, and then a final time in 1994. Tony's final trip back to Italy was in 2001 to settle his father's estate. In addition to travelling to Italy, Tony took a memorable vacation with his daughter, Laura, to Bangkok, Thailand. Laura won a free, round-trip vacation and Tony flew across the world with her so that she could see Pearl Jam perform live in concert in March of 1995. True to his nature, Tony had a wonderful time and frequently referred to their time in Bangkok together. Another noteworthy trip came in 2006: in celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary, Michael surprised both of his parents with tickets to Las Vegas. They had a great time!

      Tony was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. Tony had numerous pets throughout the years, both as a child growing up in Italy and again, once he was married to Lucy and raising their family. Although the family had two long-lasting canine friends spanning two decades (Leo, who died in 1997 and then Sparky who soon after joined the family), Tony was especially attached to Sparky, a German shepherd-golden lab mix. Sparky would follow Tony everywhere! It didn't matter if he was mowing the lawn, snow blowing the driveway or working in the garage, Sparky was always close behind. Tony was broken-hearted when Sparky passed away suddenly in 2007. After burying Sparky, Tony vowed never to own another dog again because it simply was too hard to let go when they died. They were best friends for Sparky was part of the Paliani family for the better part of a decade.

      Tony believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1987, Tony took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Tony remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found continued pleasure in gardening, playing bocce, hunting, curing his own meats, making home-made wine, fussing with cars, and assisting friends and family any way he could. In his later retirement, Tony had the privilege of spending time with his two grandsons, Matteo and later, Nico. He truly adored any time he spent with the boys and was so touched and amused by their presence. Right up until he died, Tony remained actively involved in the Marconi Club and Soo 48 CWB. He often organized popular fundraising banquets, including the annual Rabbit and Lamb parties.

The majority of Tony's days were spent with his wife, Lucy. Their daily routine of morning walks, then coffee at Tim Hortons and a quick visit with friends was legendary. They had dinner together every evening before going out together to visit family and friends. Tony made the most of each and every day he was alive and he took great pleasure being constantly surrounded by those he loved the most. Even in retirement, Tony continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Tony passed away on May 11, 2012 at Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Tony's life was ended far too soon by a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. He is survived by his wife, Lucy; his children Michael (Leslie) and Laura (Ryan); his grandchildren Matteo and Nico, and his sister, Amabilia Erme (Otello). He leaves behind so many devastated family members and close friends. Tony was truly loved by so many and no one was prepared to let him go just yet. Services were held in the Chapel at the Arthur Funeral Home. Tony was laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

      Tony brought joy to all of those around him. Truly, he never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Antonio Paliani lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will always be remembered with a smile.

EULOGY FOR MY FATHER (Laura's)

What words could I ever use to accurately describe the man I have looked up to all of my life? I’ve been scrolling through them all—generous, kind, compassionate, respectful, funny, someone who always had a smile for everyone. . .and the only word I come back to again and again is good. My father was literally the kind of man who would give you the last five dollars in his pocket and I know he would give you the shirt off of his back if he knew you needed it OR if he knew it would make you happy. Why? Because that is what my father was all about—his goodness. He wanted to help people any time and every time he could, even in times when maybe he shouldn’t have, even if it meant shifting all of his plans, leaving our family in the middle of dinner or awaking him in the middle of the night. This was the sort of man my father was and I have often wondered how he did it, how he sustained the frenetic pace that was his life. Each time I realize that my father, at the end of the day, was a man who lived for love and the joy that came with the long-lasting friendships he had.

It is his generous spirit, his infinite kindness and selflessness that laid the foundation for his exponentially large heart. I know my father loved each and every one of you. The many good acts my father has committed, the light with which he brought into every room he entered, each conversation we had with him must now sustain us. While those memories are so abundant, and I can think of so many wonderful things my father has done for me or Mike or my Mom, it just breaks my heart that he is not here anymore. I can’t quite believe it and a part of me doesn’t want and refuses to. Because even though I stand in front of you, I can tell you that having known my father and loved him and having had the privilege of being his daughter for the last three decades isn’t long enough. That little girl that would sit on her father’s lap while visiting or would follow her Dad while he worked in the garden turned into a young woman who turned to her father for everything, especially advice. These conversations helped me to navigate my oftentimes bewildering teenage years and helped me to finally understand that the under fabric of each friendship was respect and understanding. If you didn’t have those, my father would explain, then you didn’t have much at all.

My Dad is a total pragmatist. Whether I was questioning the trivialities or the unfairness of life, my father’s response would always be the same: "Mah, what are you gonna do, Laur?" It took a long time but this taught me that even in the darkest or most bewildering times of my life, my Dad taught me that there is only so much beyond what is left to chance. My father seemed to understand life as a steady continuum that is potentially larger than any of us could understand.

I keep thinking that if it was possible to talk to my Dad about all that has happened since he passed on Friday, he would look at me and say, “Eh, Laur, when you gotta go, you gotta go.” He understood that death wasn’t a choice we make and this seemed to propel his desire to live each day as fully as possible, filling each of his days with as many friends and errands and his ever-growing list of to-do’s, even if it drove my mother crazy sometimes. And by sometimes, I mean often.

Our house on 56 Reid Street became a second home for many of you. Our house was everyone’s house. Our house was notorious for its constant stream of traffic. I know that your friendship or relationship with my father and mother wasn’t the only reason that you kept coming back. My father and mother’s infamous hospitality played a large role as well. My parents taught us that you made sure if people came over to your house—which at our house happened every single day—than they should never leave hungry and boy oh boy, heaven forbid if someone should leave thirsty. There was no excuse for that! I have to admit, especially as a child, I was sometimes resentful of having to constantly share my Dad with so many people—but I have since realized that there wasn’t a limit to the amount of love or loyalty or listening my father had to share. One of his greatest joys in life was to be here, visiting with you, helping you, laughing with you or having a glass of wine with you.

What I have come to realize over the last few days is how extraordinary each of you thought my father was. Each of you cherished your time with him. Our house was the place you went to when you needed help, when you wanted company, and when you wanted a nice sandwich. Because those needs were so frequent, both my Mom, Mike and I and now with Leslie and Ryan, have come to know the strength of your friendships and the lasting power my father’s good heart will have. It is because of his heart, his sense of humour, his constant belief in respect and reciprocity and most importantly his dedication made him the outstanding man we will all miss so, so much.

The last few days have felt like a nightmare or at the best of times, a surreal dream. One of the things that has helped sustain me is to think of my father’s kind face, the way he smiled with his eyes. One of my favourite parts of making the trip from Ottawa to the Soo was walking up the driveway only to be greeted by my Dad, normally coming out of the garage with a huge smile on his face and his hand outstretched. His smile and his embrace set the tone for each and every visit.

This has got me thinking about a million things and one of the things I return to is the quiet that has settled over the house. The sounds of my father’s keys and change jingling in his pockets as he walked, the sounds of the gold chain and medallions he wore around his neck each and every day—they are both gone. I can’t hear the sounds of the garage door opening and closing, there’s no Italian music playing, the cantina door has stopped swinging open and closed. I miss him poking his head in the back door and asking my Mom to make coffee. I miss the comforting sound of my father walking down the basement stairs or his quiet shuffle as he made coffee each and every morning. Especially, I miss the mornings when I would wake up and come around the corner to see my Dad standing at the kitchen sink with a coffee in his hand. And he would always turn his head and in that low register that was his morning voice, he would always say, “Good morning.” Because for my Dad, it was a good morning. I miss the sounds of him shuffling to head to sleep after the 11 o’clock news and saying good night. Because for Dad, it was a good night but it was time to get in whatever sleep he could manage before waking up to another full day of which so many of you were a part.

But the biggest part of my father’s day was the time he spent with my mother. From their daily walks at the Essar Centre or boardwalk, to trips to Tim’s for an extra-large coffee and bagel (both shared) to their stop at “Carminella’s.” Then, it was home, or off to run another errand before going home and having lunch, sometimes together. Later, they would sit down again for dinner and if Dad didn’t have bocce or a stag to go to, they would oftentimes go out to visit in the evenings, finding themselves frequently at the homes of their most constant friends. When I would call home and speak with my Dad, he would jokingly refer to my Mother as “the other 50%.” I loved it because I knew it was really true. Because my Mom was literally my father’s other half. For all of their legendary teasing and quarreling, my father truly loved and adored my Mother. She was as much as a part of his day as the weather was-she was his constant companion. Right up until the moment my father was wheeled into his surgery on Friday morning, they were inseparable. And now. . .?

While there is so much I want to say and share, I know this needs to come to a close. I feel as though I will never truly be able to do justice to my Dad’s memory and the critical role he has played in the shaping of who I am. My relationship with my Father has made me proud of who I am, of where I come from and where I’m going. I like to think I inherited his stubbornness and his thoughtfulness. But it is so much more than that—my father and his relationship with my mother has taught me about the meaning of love, the important role strength and commitment play in a marriage, the importance of laughter and the spirit of generosity. My father was a truly extraordinary man and I am not hesitant to say that I believe there isn’t anyone out there that will ever be quite like him.

Lastly, I want to remember how my father’s life was filled with pride. He was a very proud Nonno to both Matteo and Nico; he was proud of us kids and the life he made with my mother; he was proud of the wine he made each September and the prosciutto and salami he made every January; he was proud of his ability to fix cars but most of all, he was proud of his relationship with each and every one of you. He took pride in being the man we all depended on, and no burden was too big or too small. In short, my father’s life was exemplary.

And while I will always think my father’s life was cut far too short, and the gap his absence leaves is too tremendous to ever be filled, there is solace to be found in the strong ties that bind our family. I will take solace in the legacy of love my father shared with my mother. I am comforted in watching my brother and knowing what a remarkable man he has become and it warms my heart to see how much he possesses our Dad’s essential goodness. I see so much of my Dad in Mike. These moments of light will need to sustain my heavy heart for the many, many years to come.

In closing, I beg of you not to forget my father. He loved us all too much and I feel it is our responsibility to keep his spirit of generosity moving forward, to be kind to one another and to give without expectation of receiving. My dad was a wonderful man and while our individual losses are so significant and so overwhelming, it is important to realize that each of us has been made better by having known such an extraordinary man.

I love you Dad and miss you so much. We all do. We all will.

Thank you.

EULOGY FOR MY FATHER (Michael's)

This is just a small thought I’ve always had about my Dad, a small story I guess:

A world full of Tony’s:

In a world full of Tony’s, everyone would have a bottomless glass of wine, most homes would have an endless supply of espresso, the garage door of every home would be open 24 hours, and there would be a smile and a heartfelt hello that greets everyone. There would be an abundance of kindness and laughter, and in the event of any situation, help would only be a phone call away. The hustle and bustle of everyday life would be scaled back to allow people to enjoy the simple things in life that matter most. The whole month of January would be a national holiday so that everyone could make sausage/salami and prosciutto. In Tony’s world, we’re all equals, regardless of who you are, we’d all get along, and try to make as many people as we can smile every day.

As a young boy, my Dad would always say that anything is achievable; he taught me that everything could be fixed, regardless of what it was. He was the neighbourhood handyman, from kids’ bikes, to dining room chairs to vehicles, he was always fixing something.

When you’re a child, you always envy or admire things like wrestlers, athletes and super heroes. As you grow older, you realize as a young man that after all those years, the biggest super hero was sleeping under the same roof. He was always full of insight, and when you would get mad at something, he would say, “Why get mad, it’s not going to change things.”

He was handed every obstacle in life and somehow seemed to persevere, and through the whole thing, he had a smile. He had a work ethic that was second to none, and in the midst of it all of these life obstacles, he managed to raise a great family, surround himself with fabulous friends and try to help anyone he could. He wore his heart on his sleeve and if a man’s size was relevant to the size of his heart, he should have been ten feet tall. He taught us all from a young age that it didn’t matter who it was, if someone needed help, you stop and help as much as you can.

He was a man whose foundation was honour and respect. Proud of his family, his heritage and everything he stood for. He knew everybody and if he didn’t know you, it didn’t matter because you’d still get the “Eh, how you doing, chum?”

My brother-in law-Ryan, and anyone who ever went anywhere with my Dad can attest to this—there was no such thing as what my Dad would call stopping for a five minute visit. On the same token, there wasn’t a chance of stopping in to his garage for a five minute visit. He worked a lifetime at surrounding himself with good people and an endless circle of friends. If wealth was measured in personality, friends and family, my Dad was the richest man alive.

In closing, today we say goodbye to a husband, a father, a great Nonno, and my best friend. But most importantly, we’ve lost a great LEADER. For most of us, we can take pride in the fact that we will have another angel watching over us in heaven. In a time of need or grief, we can reflect on the man he was, the huge heart he had, and the numerous ways he made us smile.

When nobody knew what to do, Tony always had a plan. Perhaps those plans and advice will still be there, but we’ll just have to be creative in understanding the ways he’s trying to tell us. I will miss him every day and live the rest of my life taking care of my mother and my family, while trying to teach my own sons everything he taught me. I will brag every opportunity I get to tell people about the great man that he was and always will be. If I can become a FRACTION of the man he was, I think I’d be happy.

This is a sad day for everyone who knew my Dad, as there is a closed sign on Tony’s garage. He would be honoured and overwhelmed at everyone who is here. Today, he would want us to mourn, but not too hard. He would want us to raise our glasses up high, with pride and say, “Salute,” and smile to remind us of the man who made every room shine.

I told my son Matteo that I was writing a story for Nonno and he asked if he could do one.

He said, “If Nonno’s in heaven, can God please give him a big kiss and a high five, because all of your friends will miss you very much. Thank you, Nonno, for coming to our house and bringing us Timbits. For Nonno’s birthday present, we will make him some special wine,” but then he said, “we’ll do a special prayer.” He also said, “We’ll get him a new saw, because he’ll be helping God cut down trees in heaven.”

Thank you everyone.

* * * * * * * * * *

PALIANI, Antonio – Born, May 27, 1946 in Patrica, Italy. With the heaviest of hearts we announce the sudden passing of our devoted husband, father and friend at the Sault Area Hospital on Friday, May 11, 2012. Beloved husband of Lucy (nee D’Addetta). Adored father of Michael Anthony (Leslie) and Laura Marie (Ryan Taylor). Proud Nonno of Matteo and Nico. Son of the late Marcello Paliani and Pietrina Barletta. Much loved brother of Amabilia Erme (Otello). Son-in-law of the late Pasquale and Maria D’Addetta. Brother-in-law of Frank D’Addetta (Rose) and Joe D’Addetta (Joan). A very special Zio to Alberta and Paolo (Dianne) Erme. Uncle to Paul D’Addetta (Toni), Pamela, Frankie, Joanne Hosack and Joey D’Addetta. Outstanding cousin and friend of so many. Tony was a longstanding member of the Marconi Club and Soo 48 CWB. He will be sorely missed by his teammates, hunting buddies and so many close friends. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 6 – 9 pm. Funeral service in the chapel on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 11:15 am. Rev. Pat Woods officiating. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Loved you yesterday,

Love you still

Always have

Always will.