Maria Gallo

I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house...the cash. What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

by Linda Ellis

Maria was born on April 5, 1934 (but not really, she was actually born on March 25, 1934) at her family home which is on the outskirts of Aiello Calabro, Cosenza, Calabria in Italy. It may seem peculiar however, many people born in the countryside had two birthdays as they needed to be registered in the closest town and sometimes that trip did not happen until weeks after their actual birth. She was the youngest daughter of Luigi and Francesca Bernardo and was raised in Aiello Calabro, Cosenza, Calabria until the age of 23. Maria was raised with six siblings. She had three older sisters, Rosaria, Carmela and Rosa and three older brothers, Nicola, Francesco and Ernesto. Being the youngest, she spent a lot of time working and learning from her siblings. They worked hard on the family farm and although it was a hard work, Maria enjoyed spending time with her family and learning skills that she could pass on to her own children. Maria had many fond memories of growing up in Italy, however, her life truly began once she came to Canada.

While Maria took care of her parents, her brothers had ventured to Canada in search of a better life and she too had aspirations of joining them someday. Her future husband, Bruno Gallo, didn't live too far from her home and they knew each other growing up. Soon their friendship turned into a serious relationship that lead to marriage and a life of 62 years together. After getting married, Maria and Bruno made the decision to move to Canada and join her brothers. Maria's brothers Ernesto and Francesco had already taken their families by boat to Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and had eventually settled down in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. At the time, many people were immigrating to Canada and not only did it become expensive, but you needed to have a sponsor who had been living there for at least a year. Fortunately for Maria, Francesco agreed to sponsor her so that she could join them in Canada. It saddened her to leave her father knowing she would not see him again but she was excited to reunite with her siblings and start a better life in Canada. She also knew she would have to leave her new husband behind until she was able to sponsor him but she knew that this was the right decision for their future family. So in 1957, she boarded the ship that would take her on a new adventure. Maria recounted that she was seasick the entire voyage until she reached Pier 21, later finding out that it wasn't just seasickness, but that she was pregnant with her first child.

Maria shared a very small dwelling with her brothers, their wives and their children while waiting for Bruno to join her. Even though it was a small home and they were living in a relatively unknown city, they leaned on each other for support and took care of one another. After discovering that she was pregnant, Maria was able to sponsor Bruno and he joined her in Canada after their first child, Joseph, was born. By this time, the small house was a little overcrowded so Maria and Bruno ventured out to find their first apartment. At this time, Bruno had found a job working construction and eventually got a full time job at The Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company. Two years after the birth of their first son, Maria and Bruno welcomed their daughter Maria into the world and shortly after that, their son Sergio. While walking to work one day, Bruno saw a "For Sale" sign in the yard of the house next door to the small house Maria lived in before he arrived! They were able to purchase the house and to this day, it remains their family home. In order to help Bruno make payments on the house, Maria started working at Bluebird Bakery once all of their children were in school. Although Bruno and Maria were busy with work and raising their children, they made it a priority to become Canadian citizens. In 1977, they both received their full citizenship and have been very proud to be Canadian citizens ever since.

Eventually Maria moved on from her job at Bluebird Bakery to work at the Four Winds Motel to work with her sisters-in-law, Elena and Lilla as well as her friends Ersilia Cuglietta, Emma Caputo and Ortenzia Fata. They worked hard and helped each other out while enjoying their time together, whether it was sharing a recipe or talking about their children's latest accomplishments. Although the friends ended up moving to different jobs, they remained close and kept in touch. Maria found a job at the Skyline Motel working for a wonderful couple, Peter and Carol, who became not only her employers but very good friends. Maria was either driven to work or took the city bus so it comes as no surprise that one day she decided she wanted to learn to drive. Thanks to Joanne Lepore and Caicco Driving School, she achieved her goal and got her driver's licence. Bruno bought her a small used car which allowed her to drive to and from work on her own. In her circle of friends and relatives, Maria was one of the only ones who received their licence and used it not only as a means for her own independence, but to also help her friends or relatives whenever needed.

Maria and Bruno were very busy taking care of their family and therefore did not take a lot of trips besides the occasional quick trip to London for a wedding or celebration. Although they did not travel often, Maria took pleasure in travelling with her family. She loved hearing and telling stories while they travelled and snacked constantly on homemade breadsticks, cookies, chips and peanuts before they would stop for a family picnic. Her favourite excursions were ones that were planned but always included some kind of unscheduled stop. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Maria would visit family as well as take in some other sights. Favourite vacations included visiting Niagara Falls when her husband Bruno retired and the highlight was going under the Niagara Falls. London was a regular destination because her sister Rose and family lived there and Toronto would be the final stop before heading back to the North. The Toronto Zoo was always an adventure and a little stop in Little Italy brought back “old country” memories.

In 1994, Maria retired from working and focused her time on her grandchildren. She was blessed with four grandchildren, Arja-Liisa, Taija, Britt and Gitano. She was always happy to watch them and enjoyed spending quality time with them whether it was watching their favourite cartoons, colouring or going to Mac's Mart for a treat. She also knew the way to their hearts was through their stomachs and boy did she make happy hearts! Nonna got them hooked on pastina at an early age and the food story continued to blossom. She made sure she always had homemade breadsticks, bread, gnocchi and genetti ready as well as the seasonal pitticelle and culurilli, which no one could ever get enough of! Nonna took so much joy in attending school concerts, hockey and soccer games, dance recitals and graduations. It made her heart swell with happiness watching her grandchildren achieve their goals. She always wanted the best for them and spoiled them. (maybe a little too much sometimes!). Although she watched her grandchildren grow into young adults, they were always her little bambini and she wanted to protect them and care for them.

Maria had a strong belief in preserving family traditions. At an early, age, her children learned to help out around the house and in the garden as well as learning treasured family recipes. Joseph learned very early on not only how to make pasta sauce, but also how to test it to make sure it was perfect (dipping a piece of bread to taste test!). The family anticipated certain times of the year that brought everyone together for a time honoured tradition. The January cold is the perfect time to make sausages and the warm sun of August is the best time for tomato sauce. After a few days of preparation, the family gathers early in the morning to begin the day long process of making enough preserves to last the family until the next year. Everyone has a specific job and along the way, many stories are told and a lot of taste testing occurs. The family never did learn how to calculate how much sauce they would need for the year and even though they would say "No tomato sauce this year!", Maria always won out and tomato sauce was made regardless. Maria also canned and preserved beets, beans and olives. Maria believed in freely sharing her recipes and would take the time to show exactly how to make a certain recipe. She made it her mission to pass on to her grandchildren her recipes, specifically for genetti, bread, breadsticks, gnocchi and meatballs. It was always a challenge for her children and grandchildren though as Maria hardly had any written recipes! Getting the measurements right on her recipes is a challenge she has left us with but we look forward to spending time together in the kitchen while we work on them for many years to come as we try to get them to be "just like Nonna's". We know she is watching over us as we make these attempts! Maria never took shortcuts when preparing food for her family and regardless of the circumstances, she made it a priority to have dinners together as a family. Food was an important part of Maria's life and she was successful in passing this passion on to her children and grandchildren. The time spent preparing food and sharing a meal with family gives everyone the chance to reconnect, reminisce and create a lifetime of happy memories and we certainly have a lot of those.

When Maria first moved to Canada, she did not have many past times as her family was growing and her main concern was to provide for her husband and children which took up the majority of her time. As the years went on and her children grew up, Maria was able to dedicate more time to discovering and pursuing her interests such as crocheting (everyone has a blanket from Nonna with the only stitch she knew!), hand sewing, and knitting. It wasn't until later on in life that Maria changed roles and instead of harvesting from the garden, she took on the role of planning, organizing and planting the garden. This passion became an obsession and if you ever couldn't find her, there was a good chance you would find her bent over in the garden, weeding, watering or killing bugs. During the early spring, she would begin to plant tomato and pepper seeds indoors and get them ready to transfer into the garden when the risk of frost was over. One of the first things planted in the garden were onions. Everyone would wait anxiously for them to be ready so that Maria could make the first cipolla frittata of the season to be followed a few weeks later by her zucchini pitticelle. She loved to show off her garden to everyone and anyone who came to visit got to take her famous garden tour. She would be extremely proud to find large vegetables such as tomatoes and would be eager to get the scale out to weigh them. Her plants and vegetables only got to be "that size" because of her special touch. Maria would be quick to call her brother Ciccio and start off by saying "Oi Ci, devi vedere quanto sonno grandi i pomodori mie" and then proceed to discuss their gardens and their techniques because they wanted to outdo each other every year. They had so much fun and shared many laughs and happy moments with this friendly competition and it made the rest of the family smile to see them having so much fun. Maria was always more than happy to share vegetables from her garden with family and friends and was content to use her own basil and parsley when cooking family dinners. A "quick" trip out to the garden could easily last a couple hours for Maria as she found a certain peace working in her garden.

During Maria and Bruno's retirement, they enjoyed the company of friends and family by going across the river to Kewadin Casino. They boarded a school bus every week and spent a couple hours at the slot machines. As Maria grew older, she continued to enjoy going to the casino every week with her family. Tuesday night became "Casino Night" in the Gallo household and Maria and Sergio would head out for 1 hour which always turned into 2 or 3! Did she win? Sometimes! She would always give a detailed account of her casino woes unless she won. She took great pleasure in counting out her winnings in front of the family (more than once!). To fill her time before the next casino visit, Maria's son Sergio would keep her occupied with many scratch tickets. In the morning, she would find some on the couch, in the afternoon, there would be some more on the couch and after dinner, even more tickets for her to scratch! You could often find Maria curled up in her Blue Jays blanket on the couch scratching tickets after dinner while watching a movie (Maria seemed to have an affinity for action movies that involved a lot of blood such as John Wick, The Equalizer, RED, The Expendables and her favourite, Die Hard, however, she also had a softer side and loved The Sound of Music, Pretty Woman and any Disney movie). As time went on, the rest of the family got on board and there was hardly ever a visit that did not include a scratch ticket for Maria.

As her life was very busy supporting her family and raising her children, Maria didn't have a lot of time for leisure activities, however, she discovered a new interest once her grandchildren started to become involved in sports. She took pleasure in watching them at gymnastics, swimming lessons, soccer, hockey and dance recitals. A surprise to everyone who knew her was her growing passion for the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club. If there wasn't a good movie on the tv, then there was definitely a Blue Jays game on. When the weather was nice, Maria and her family would sit outside and watch games otherwise she would be curled up on the couch with her favourite Blue Jays blanket. Maria was always in a good mood when they were winning but when she stopped wearing her beloved Blue Jays shirt, you knew they were not doing so well. Maria always had hope that no matter what their standing that they would turn things around and come out winning! Maria also enjoyed watching the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hockey team and the local Team Jacobs curling team. Maria's love for these sports brought her family together and they enjoyed many evenings together cheering on their favourite teams.

While growing up, Maria's children wanted pets and they learned early on that the rabbits in the back shed could not be their pets as Bruno had other uses for them so, they had goldfish, a turtle and cats. Maria nurtured and cherished her pets. Calvin, a cat, was her best friend for 21 years because she took care of her from birth as her mother died shortly after birth. Imagine bottle feeling a kitten and bathing her every day! Calvin loved Maria's homemade chicken broth and pastina and Maria learned to share her mortadella with all her cats. Her family also included her three cats, Bud, Jenny and Stella.

Maria was a woman who was dedicated and devoted to her faith. She was a member of St. Gregory's Church where for 56 years she attended mass and watched her children and grandchildren receive their sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. She would also spend time reading from her Italian missal and devotional books. She fondly supported the Istituto Antoniano Maschile Feminile an orphanage in Italy as St. Anthony was the family's patron saint. Maria and Bruno were Godparents to several children (Robert Guido, Mario Lepore, Pina Fata and Fortunata Pucci) throughout the years. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.

With a talent for making acquaintances easily, Maria was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Maria had a tight knit group of friends that she met through her family and work and maintained these friendships through visits and phone calls. She enjoyed phone conversations with her sisters and brothers and eventually, the phone was their main way of checking up on each other as they grew older. Comare Ida Guido became a very close and trusted friend of Maria. They looked forward to their visits and could they talk for hours! To watch them from afar warmed your heart as they would be sitting closely side by side sharing their stories and thoughts. Ida would always surprise Maria with something homemade whenever she came for a "quick" visit and everyone got a chance to enjoy her delicious cooking and baking. A friendship like theirs is certainly a precious and rare gift and it was beautiful to watch and it also served as a reminder of what a true friendship was.

Sitting down and having the opportunity to reflect and write about Maria (Nonna) and her life has given us many opportunities to reminisce, share and sometimes discover things we did not know about her. We laughed and we cried and wondered how she managed to accomplish so many things but all in all, we are truly grateful and lucky to have had her in our lives. Maria was a straightforward, hard working person who knew what she wanted for herself and her family. Maria was always willing to learn new things and as her children and grandchildren learned new things, she was open to discovering along with them. This provided many opportunities for everyone to connect. Maria was also very open to sharing her experiences and knowledge with others whether it was in the garden or in the kitchen and this knowledge that has been instilled in us is now a way for her to live on through us. Maria’s saw the importance of family and togetherness and she worked at finding ways to keep her family united and strong whether it was through family dinners, passing on recipes or simply watching a movie together. These life lessons that she taught us will continue to be a part of our daily life and we will continue to value them as she will live on through that togetherness. We knew that Maria was ill for many years but she did not let that slow her down. Though she had many detours and delays, her strength and perseverance came through and allowed her to enjoy life to the fullest and was an inspiration to her family and friends. No matter what, Maria kept moving forward with a smile on her face and a determination to make the most out of every moment and as we reflect on her life, we can confidently say that she was successful in doing this. We all had our own special times, moments and memories that we shared with Maria and although we miss her dearly, we will treasure them in our hearts forever.

Arja Liisa's Writing Assignment February 4, 2011

In the year 1955, Maria made an incredible voyage. This journey was a difficult one but one she knew it was necessary. She knew that there would be many struggles along the way and the fact that she would be alone for a long time only increased her anxiety. However, she would persevere because she knew that this was ultimately the most beneficial thing she could ever do for her family.

After getting married in Aiello, Calabria, Italy, Maria and her husband made the decision to move Canada. Maria's older brother had already taken the boat to Pier 21and had settled down in Sault Ste. Marie. He explained that the economy was thriving and there were many housing opportunities. When Maria mentioned this to her other relatives, she found that everyone had the same idea and were planning to move in the near future. Although Maria was glad that she would not be separated from her family for too long, she was concerned about the immigration process and her financial situation. Because many immigrants were choosing to move to Canada, not only was it very expensive, but you needed a sponsor in Canada. This sponsor had to be living in Canada for a year and could only sponsor one person a year. There were very few exceptions to this rule. Therefore Maria would be in Canada without her husband for possibly more than a year and this made her very sad. She was worried she would have difficulty with the transition to a completely different country. She was also worried because she had never travelled more than an hour away from her town. She wasn't sure how she would be able to live on her own, away from the only life she had ever known. After talking it over for months though, they decided that it would ensure the best quality of life for their future family.

In June 1955, Maria stepped on to the boat that would take her thousands of miles away from the only life she had ever known. Saying goodbye to her family and friends proved very hard as she didn't know when she would see them again. Her husband assured her that he was working as hard as he could to save enough money for him to make the trip; however, he have her all his savings so that she could put a down payment on their first home. She knew that it would be at least a year before she would get to see him again and this made her very sad but he assured her that the time would fly by. As the boat launched, she could already feel her stomach lurching and she went down to her cabin and stayed there for the whole trip.

About a week later, Maria arrived at Pier 21 and she could not be happier to finally be on solid ground. She met up with her brother and made the 4 day trip to Sault Ste. Marie in his new car. She was very excited to see her brother as he had been gone for almost two years. He explained to her about Canada and how wonderful it has been to his family. He told her that everyone shared the same goal: to make a better life for themselves and their families in the land of the free. Maria knew at that moment as she looked out the window at the beautiful scenery, that she had made the right choice.

Within the week, Maria had already found a little house. Her brother and his co-workers got together to help refurbish he house and add an extra room. Maria also found a job working at a local hotel, cleaning rooms. She also discovered a sewing group run by a local charity for immigrants. She attended every week and made many new friends. At first, it was difficult to adjust to living in this strange, new country all alone. Maria was a very strong and determined woman though and had a very strong family support system. These two factors helped her find her way and make the best out of her new life. She could not wait for her husband to join her so she could show him how amazing their new life would be.

While at the doctors for a routine check-up in October, Maria got the surprise of her life; she was 4 months pregnant! She rushed home and immediately called her husband to tell him the news. He was so excited and promised to be by her side when the baby was to be delivered and he kept his word. On March 3, 1956, Maria gave birth to her first son wither her husband by her side. One of the exceptions to the sponsor rule is that if your wife is pregnant, you are allowed to come over without any hassle. As soon as he got off the phone with her, he bought the earliest boat ticket and packed for his new life.

Maria and her husband both had good paying jobs, lived in a beautiful home, made many new friends, had many family members living in the area and now they had a perfect son to start their family. Over the next five years, Maria had 2 more children. She and he husband quickly learned English and were able to keep their jobs. They continued to renovate their now large home as they added a basement, garage and backyard garden. Within the next ten years, almost all of Maria's family made the trip to Sault Ste. Marie, including her mother. Her three children were able to attend a great school and mad many friends of many different backgrounds. They had parties every Saturday night in their basement where Maria's husband would play the accordion while everyone danced and sang all night long. Life for Maria was very good.

Years after making the move, Maria retold this story to her grandchildren. She looked at them and knew that she had made the right decision. Her oldest granddaughter was just starting her last year of high school and ready to go away for University. She could not believe how fast time flew by; it seemed like only yesterday she was holding her for the first time. The opportunities that her children and grandchildren have had and will have are more than she ever could have imagined. She knew in that moment, looking into her granddaughter's eyes that the move to Canada was the best decision she ever made.

A Side Note

I wrote this story based on the stories my Nonna told me about her move to Canada. She showed so much strength and courage while facing adversity. This picture reminded me of her because one day she told me about all the different places her friends came from but ultimately, they all came to Canada for one reason; to build a better life for their families. Therefore, she was the inspiration for this short story.

GALLO, Maria

It is with profound sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved Maria Wife, Mother, Nonna and Zia at the Sault Area Hospital on Thursday, March 15, 2018 with her family by her side at the age of 83. Beloved wife of Bruno of 62 years. Devoted mother and best friend of Joseph (Dory), Maria and Sergio. Much loved and doting Nonna of Arja Liisa (Jordan), late Taija, Britt Savage (Maurice) and Gitano. Dearest sister of the late Francesco Bernardo (Elena), late Rosaria Gallo (late Antonio), late Carmela Lepore (late Saverio), late Nicola Bennardo-Ciddio (late Maria), late Ernesto (Paolina) and late Rose Pucci (late Francesco). Sister-in-law of Giuseppina Gallo, late Giovanni Gallo (late Mirella), late Gaetano Gallo (Paolina), and late Geniale Gallo (Maria), both of Italy. Predeceased by her parents Luigi and Francesca Bernardo. Maria will be sadly missed by her cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Maria so willingly shared her passions for cooking, gardening and traditions and she will live on through the many memories she created together with family and friends. Everything she did throughout her life had one focus and that was to Love and take care of her family. Family and friends are invited to Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E. – 705-759-2522) on Monday, March 19, 2018 from 6 – 9 pm. Funeral mass to be celebrated from St. Gregory’s Parish on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 11 am. Rev. Eric Pannike officiating. Entombment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Sault Area Hospital would be appreciated. Thank you to the dedication and commitment of the medical professionals who allowed us to have her in our lives for so many years. Special thanks to Dr. Mario Febbraro, Dr. Mark Jenkins and Denise, Dr. Bignell and Dr. Spadafora. Weekly visits from her nurse Brenna inspired her to keep going and striving to do her best. The CarePartners team (Melissa, Jasmine, Katie, Mary and Gayle) who helped her get the day started. A wonderful dedicated team from London Health Sciences-Cheryl Dale, Dr. Marotta, Dr. Ghent and Dr. Lock provided care and treatment throughout her medical journey. Special thanks to the Emergency Response Team and the Doctors and Nurses of ICU for all your efforts and the care and compassion you provided to Maria and the support you gave her family.

A limb has fallen from the family tree

I keep hearing a voice that says,

"Grieve not for me.

Remember the best times, the laughter,

the song.

The good life I lived while I was strong.

Continue my heritage,

I'm counting on you.

Keep smiling and surely

the sun will shine through.

My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.

Remembering all, how I truly was blessed. Continue traditions, no matter how small.

Go on with your life,

don't worry about falls.

I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin.

Until the day comes we're together again."

Christmas Cookies (Tordilli di Carmela Lepore)

1 cup of eggs (10oz glass) 1 tassa di uova (bicchieri di 10oz)

1 cup of milk 1 tassa di latte

1 cup of oil 1 tassa di olio

1 cup of sugar 1 tassa di zucchero

1 envelope of Bertolini 1 bustina di Bertolini

This is one of the few recipes Maria had written down. The glass Mom used is a 10oz glass. Use the same one for all 4 ingredients. Add enough flour to make the dough a little firmer than genetti dough. Hopefully you know what to do about mixing and frying them up and then rolling them in honey.

This recipe was shared with Mirella, Maria's niece, along with the glass. Mirella made them under the careful supervision of her Zia Maria first and has since made them several times successfully. The secret is in the glass!

Stories and Memories The Family Would Like To Share

Dad and Mom were married for 62 years. Together they worked hard to raise their family and provide the best they could for Joe, Maria and Sergio. It was something to watch as they grew older and had their own health issues and how one would do whatever they could to support the one who needed help. Their inner strength, love and devotion for each other allowed their “Superman” to shine through. Dad would do whatever he could to help Mom such as setting the table, peeling potatoes and in the evening he tried to cover her with her blanket but she was so independent that she always beat him to it. On his way to bed every night he would give her a kiss on the head and it always made her smile and we smiled along with her because it was so cute. We know he misses her terribly and it is hard for him to comprehend fully that she is truly gone. When we discuss it he replies “Volesse godere con gli angeli” and we know that Mom is with the angels and happy in Heaven.

Written on behalf of Maria's loving husband, Bruno, who loves and misses her very much.

There are many stories about Mom that I can remember but the thing that amazed me the most was her ability to accomplish so many things in a day and still have a full course meal ready by 6 p.m. I don't know how she found the time to do everything- laundry, clean the houses and still have time to sit and visit whenever I dropped by. I remember when I stopped in after work especially if she was cooking she would salt the food and then ask me if she had put the salt in. It didn't matter because she would salt it again. So many a night the food was just a little saltier. Those are some of the times I miss- just a quick visit to see how things were and then carry on till the next day.

Love, Joe

Well Mom (Mamma) certainly deserves a tribute. There was definitely no other person like her in the whole world and the world needs to know that. I miss her terribly and even though I know with all of her health issues we were blessed to have her with us for as long as we did, I would have loved to have her with us for longer because there was still lots to do and to say. The only thing that gives me some comfort is knowing she is not suffering anymore and with her you didn’t really know how much she was suffering because every morning she got up and did her morning routine and in between scratching tickets and watching a show on the tv she would bake, cook, sew, crotchet or in the right season spend much time in the garden. I have said and will always say it that she was a very strong woman and I truly admired her for her courage and determination to make the most out of each day and for her perseverance. I do hope that some of it has rubbed off on me.

I could go on forever about the things we did together but I know that those memories will live on forever in my heart and whenever the occasion arises I will share them with my family and friends. I must say that she wasn’t your typical Mom who came from Italy. She learned along the way just like we her children did and to support us at times she ventured out into the unknown. She attended plays with me and really enjoyed them. We saw Tommy, Evita and The Sound of Music. She would come into the record store when I wanted to browse or buy an album or CD, as well as the bookstore because she knew I wanted to check the latest at these stores so she accompanied me and enjoyed herself.

Many time we would go shopping for an outfit for a special occasion and end up in the fitting room together both trying on clothes. It always ended in the same way. We would start to giggle a little and then it turned out to be a lot and then uncontrollably until we left not having accomplished a thing. We did the dishes together after supper and we both had our jobs. She washed; I dried. She knew I wanted to be a French teacher and in high school I would talk to her in French while we did the dishes. I would talk and talk and talk and she listened. She did not speak French and that didn’t matter because she knew it was important to me so she listened. Once I became a teacher, Mom loved to help me with certain tasks for school. She loved preparing treats for the kids for special occasions like Halloween Christmas, Valentines. She would carefully fill the bags and tie ribbons and then at the end of the day ask how the kids loved their treats. She was always a great help to me.

In the evenings after supper, when we would settle in the living room to watch television we all had our own spot. Mom would get under her blanket on the small sofa, Dad would sit in the lazy-boy, Sergio and I would be on the couch and we watched our regulars- Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Dad would make his way to bed and Sergio would go off and do something usually and Mom and I would be each on our own sofa under blankets watching our regular shows or movies.

One thing that I always found amazing was how she was able to fix my mistakes in sewing, knitting, tangled necklaces, preparing food and somehow I always found a way to complicate things but she managed to get me out of these jams. She was my go to person. Mom taught us so many things and as the days progress I think of her many, many times as I try to carry on and “make it just like Mom” and she will live on forever in our hearts and all she taught us. Love you, Ma!

I do want to add that I am very grateful to Arja Liisa for sitting with me and helping to create this memory book of Mom. We have shared a lot of stories, laughs and tears and throughout it all we come away knowing that she loved her husband, her children, and grandchildren with everything in her and would do anything to see them happy. We could continue to write this book forever because there is always one more story or memory but since we can’t we will just have to sit around the table or tomato sauce pot or sausage machine and continue to share our stories, memories and love for Mom and we know she is always there with us.

Sempre, sempre nei miei pensieri, e sempre nel mio cuore.

XO Maria Marisella

Sergio-My Memory of Mom

“THE SMILE”

The thing that stands out the most about Mom for me was her smile.

Mom would always greet you with her smile and it brought a smile to our faces to. Every morning when she made her way into the kitchen she would say “Good Morning” and have a smile and that was her way and ours to get the day started because you could see she had a “to-do” list that she wanted to get to. Her smile was the biggest and brightest whenever Arja-Liisa, Britt and Gitano- her grandchildren, got dropped off or as they got older, came by on their own either walking or they drove.

Mom would even smile when she was on the phone especially with her brothers, Uncle Frank and Uncle Nick. Her smile was infectious because seeing her smile made us smile as well.

When Tuesday Night came around we all knew it was “Casino Night”. If the casino was good to her then her smile was huge along with the play by play of how she got her winnings.

When I think of Mom and picture that smile it makes me smile and feel happy.

Always in my heart!

Love you!

xo Sergio

The earliest memories I have of Nonna all involve food. Whether it was packing my lunch together for school, sitting downstairs eating mortadella sandwiches and fries when I would come over for lunch or family dinners where we would all leave so full that we couldn't move, Nonna was always there smiling and laughing, happy to have us over. We were lucky to be able to spend so much time together making tomato sauce and sausages, picking vegetables from the garden and eating Nonna's homemade meals. Nonna was always happy to share her recipes with us and teach us how to make our favourites like her bread and gnocchi. This always proved to be a little challenging though as most of her recipes were not written down and she just knew exactly how much flour or water to add to make everything perfect. I wish I would have written down more of her recipes but she taught me enough that I hope eventually I will be able to make some of our favourites and that they are even slightly as good as hers. No matter what, Nonna was always my biggest supporter and always wanted the best for me. The unconditional love that she had for me and our family is something we were all so lucky to experience. I know that whenever we gather for a family dinner, spend some time in the garden or attempt to make one of her recipes, she will be with us. I love and miss her so much but I know my life was better because of her love and support and that I will always carry those memories and love with me forever.

Love, Arja-Liisa

I have so many happy and funny memories with Nonna, I don’t even know where to start.

I remember when I was younger and we would be at Nonna’s during the afternoon in the summer, I would help her hang laundry outside. I would stand on the deck stairs and while she held the clothes up to the line, I would pin them down. I always loved helping her with the laundry and it might be why I enjoy doing laundry so much today. In the summer, she would also walk us down the street to the bakery to pick up fresh lunch meat and buns for lunch – and she ALWAYS bought pear juice because she knew I loved it so much.

There are a ridiculous amount of memories I have in that basement kitchen. We were so lucky that she wanted to include us in her cooking and teach us everything she could. She was so meticulous in her cooking; she always knew exactly what to add more of, and what the texture of what she was making was supposed to be like. Because of her I know how to make meatballs from scratch (although they will never be as good as hers!) and I can make gnocchi too. I haven’t had the courage to try making genetti yet because I know how particular she was with them – if you weren’t doing it just right she would correct you only so many times before telling you to stop entirely and just watch and eat. I loved that she always made a fresh batch of genetti for our birthdays and for any other celebration (Christmas, graduations, etc.).

Memories that are especially close to my heart are from making tomato sauce. I looked forward to tomato day SO much. It was/is my favourite day of the year! I loved getting up early to help wash and cut the tomatoes (and of course be fed breakfast by Nonna). I was so happy to help grind the tomatoes and learn how to make sauce so that I could do it by myself one day. My favourite thing about tomato day was that Nonna was THE BOSS. Any important decision regarding the tomatoes or the sauce had to be run by Nonna first. She knew exactly how things had to be done and I hope I can be that knowledgeable and experienced one day. Having fresh sauce for dinner is definitely a highlight of tomato day, but I will always love remembering how hard Nonna worked all day. I know we will continue this tradition, but I also know it won’t be the same without her there.

She was such a funny lady. I loved when she laughed so hard over something that she would tear up and barely be able to breathe. Seeing her laugh that hard made me laugh that hard and I just smile thinking about those times because she was always laughing over something really silly. I also love how she loved her “violent” movies like Die Hard and Red and Red 2. I remember when I was younger, I was downstairs upset over something and everyone else was upstairs watching a movie. She came all the way downstairs to convince me to come upstairs and watch the “nice” movie with them. When we got upstairs, the movie they were watching was Tropic Thunder and there just so happened to be a really gross, gory scene and I just find it so funny that she described it as a “nice” movie to me. Another funny story I remember is being outside in the garden with her, and we noticed a HUGE spider on the side of the greenhouse. That poor spider didn’t have a chance when Nonna went at it with her broom!!

In January 2017, I broke my wrist from a snowboarding fall. When I went to the hospital and had a half cast, and then a full cast, I KNEW in my head that Nonna was going to be so upset with me for hurting myself. The funny thing was, she was more upset with me for having a broken wrist than she was with HERSELF for having a wrist cast AT THE SAME TIME AS ME!!! That is how much she cared about us and the people she loved. She didn’t care that I was upset that she was in a cast, she was more worried about me bring hurt.

That’s what I love so much about her. She always cared so much about everyone she loved. She was always cooking for us, making sure we were fed, bringing us ice cream outside in the summer before we even had the chance to go inside and get it ourselves. Her obituary was written correctly, she was an extremely loving and doting Nonna and we were the most spoiled grandchildren.

She was always so happy to see us, and so bummed when we had to leave, but made sure to tell us to come visit soon, and ANY time. She gave the best hugs too and I don’t think I fully realized that until she passed. A few days after returning to Virginia, I had a dream that I was at the back door at Nonna’s house and a bunch of us were outside hanging out, and then all of a sudden Nonna was there and she was so happy to see me and I was so happy to see her and she gave me the BIGGEST hug. I knew when I woke up that she had come to see me and give me a hug because I never got to give her a hug goodbye recently.

I know she’s not really gone. I knew that from the day that she passed. I asked mom to stop by Mac’s on the way home from the hospital because I wanted to pick up tickets so I could scratch them at the visitation. I caved and scratched two that evening... and I won on both tickets. It was uncanny, and I knew she was still watching out for us. At the visitation, Moe and myself scratched one more ticket with Nonna, and I won on that scratch ticket too (I can’t say Moe had the same luck!), but I knew from that, that she was there with us and that she would never truly be gone. On the day of the funeral, it may have been chilly, but the sun was shining all day and I remember Zia saying that it was Nonna shining down on us, and I believe it.

I miss her every single day and I think about her every single day. I talk to her when I go to church, and I have her picture beside my bed so I can say goodnight to her every night. She is and was an incredibly special lady who touched the lives of so many people. She is one of the women I will always look up to for guidance in my life and I will always count her as one of the most important blessings I have in my life. Love and miss you Nonna.

Love always,

Britt Gallo Savage

Nonna welcomed me into the family with open arms 28 years ago. She was the most kind and caring person and I was so fortunate to be a part of her life. Nonna enjoyed her time with family, especially with her grandchildren. She was the happiest when she could feed them, often feeding Arja-Liisa while she was walking around the house when she should have been sitting in her little chair in front of the TV. Nonna also loved feeding Essi and liked to give her more than she was allowed! If I said "2 treats", Nonna would always say "1 more!" with a big smile on her face. How could I say no? During my pregnancy with Arja-Liisa, a meal at Nonna's was not complete without a beer. "It's good for the baby!" she would tell me. After being in Wawa for a month with all the kids, Nonna's first comments when she saw them were "The kids look skinny!". The most awesome Christmas gift (Nonna and I agreed on this) was a copy of the movie Pretty Woman on DVD, which was one of Nonna's favourite movies. She always watched it on TV and Zia was tired of this movie but that never stopped Nonna from watching it over and over again. Nonna's life was a life lived to its fullest. A happy marriage, a wonderful family and a loving home were just some of the great things she accomplished. I will hold my memories of Nonna close to my heart always.

Love, Dory

Seasons in the Sun

Terry Jacks

Goodbye to you my trusted friend

We've known each other since we were nine or ten

Together we've climbed hills and trees

Learned of love and ABC's

Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

Goodbye my friend it's hard to die

When all the birds are singing in the sky

Now that the spring is in the air

Pretty girls are everywhere

Think of me and I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the hills that we climbed

Were just seasons out of time

Goodbye Papa please pray for me

I was the black sheep of the family

You tried to teach me right from wrong

Too much wine and too much song

Wonder how I got along

Goodbye Papa it's hard to die

When all the birds are singing in the sky

Now that the spring is in the air

Little children everywhere

When you see them, I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the wine and the song

Like the seasons have all gone

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the wine and the song

Like the seasons have all gone

Goodbye Michelle my little one

You gave me love and helped me find the sun

And every time that I was down

You would always come around

And get my feet back on the ground

Goodbye Michelle it's hard to die

When all the birds are singing in the sky

Now that the spring is in the air

With the flowers everywhere

I wish that we could both be there

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the stars we could reach

Were just starfish on the beach

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the stars we could reach

Were just starfish on the beach

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the wine and the song

Like the seasons have all gone

All our lives we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the hills that we climbed

Were just seasons out of time

Not a day goes by that we don't think about you Ma. And to be honest, there are many times when it's a lonely world without you. But we feel and know we were blessed to be a part of your life and you a part of ours, and we know that you are still looking out for us.

Ma was always :

voice of reason, story teller, advice giver, hand holder, partner-in-crime, shoulder shopping buddy, support, teacher, chef, broken heart healer, right-hand, psychologist, nerve calmer, angel, sunshine, heart and soul, problem solver, casino buddy, comedian, doctor, peace keeper, cheerleader, twin, confidant, our best friend. These are just a few of the words we thought of to describe our relationship with you. You were the world to us and we thank God every day for the time we had with you and all the wonderful memories that we created together.

On Eagle's Wings

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord

Who abide in His shadow for life

Say to the Lord,

My refuge, my rock in whom I trust.

Refrain: And He will raise you up on eagles' wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you

And famine will bring you no fear

Under His wings your refuge

His faithfulness your shield.

You need not fear the terror of the night

Nor the arrow that flies by day

Though thousands fall about you

Near you it shall not come.

For to His angels He's given a command

To guard you in all ways

Upon their hands they will bear you up

Lest you dash your foot against the stone.

Always loved

Never forgotten

Forever missed

We love you and miss you Ma!

xoxoxoxo

A life well lived is a precious gift,

of hope and strength and grace,

from someone who has made our world

a brighter, better place.

It's filled with moments sweet and sad,

with smiles and sometimes tears,

with friendships formed and good times shared,

and laughter through the years.

A life well lived is a legacy,

of joy and pride and pleasure,

a living, lasting memory

our grateful hearts will treasure.

* * * * * * * * * *

GALLO, Maria – It is with profound sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved Maria Wife, Mother, Nonna and Zia at the Sault Area Hospital on Thursday, March 15, 2018 with her family by her side at the age of 83. Beloved wife of Bruno of 62 years. Devoted mother and best friend of Joseph (Dory), Maria and Sergio. Much loved and doting Nonna of Arja Liisa (Jordan), late Taija, Britt Savage (Maurice) and Gitano. Dearest sister of the late Francesco Bernardo (Elena), late Rosaria Gallo (late Antonio), late Carmela Lepore (late Saverio), late Nicola Bennardo-Ciddio (late Maria), late Ernesto (Paolina) and late Rose Pucci (late Francesco). Sister-in-law of Giuseppina Gallo, late Giovanni Gallo (late Mirella), late Gaetano Gallo (Paolina), and late Geniale Gallo (Maria), both of Italy. Predeceased by her parents Luigi and Francesca Bernardo. Maria will be sadly missed by her cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Maria so willingly shared her passions for cooking, gardening and traditions and she will live on through the many memories she created together with family and friends. Everything she did throughout her life had one focus and that was to Love and take care of her family. Family and friends are invited to Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E. – 705-759-2522) on Monday, March 19, 2018 from 6 – 9 pm. Funeral mass to be celebrated from St. Gregory’s Parish on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 11 am. Rev. Eric Pannike officiating. Entombment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Sault Area Hospital would be appreciated. Thank you to the dedication and commitment of the medical professionals who allowed us to have her in our lives for so many years. Special thanks to Dr. Mario Febbraro, Dr. Mark Jenkins and Denise, Dr. Bignell and Dr. Spadafora. Weekly visits from her nurse Brenna inspired her to keep going and striving to do her best. The CarePartners team (Melissa, Jasmine, Katie, Mary and Gayle) who helped her get the day started. A wonderful dedicated team from London Health Sciences-Cheryl Dale, Dr. Marotta, Dr. Ghent and Dr. Lock provided care and treatment throughout her medical journey. Special thanks to the Emergency Response Team and the Doctors and Nurses of ICU for all your efforts and the care and compassion you provided to Maria and the support you gave her family. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com