Clara Brescacin, aged 88, passed away on August 23rd, 2026. Born July 20th 1938, in Cordignano, Italy. Clara was a strong and brave woman whose life was defined by love, resilience, generosity, and an unwavering devotion to the people around her.
Nonna made the courageous journey at the young age of 19 to move to Canada, where she began a new chapter of her life and married her beloved husband, Guiseppe. Together, they built a life and a family filled with love, hard work, and countless memories. Guiseppe passed away in 2003, but she carried his memory with her throughout the many years that followed.
Nonna was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, godmother, and a treasured friend to many. She had an extraordinary ability to take care of everyone around her. No matter what she had or how limited her resources might have been, she always found a way to give, to help, and to make sure someone else was looked after.
She was a small lady with an enormous spirit, a true force to reckon with. She was not interested in gossip or unnecessary drama. She believed in doing what was right, living with dignity, and treating people with respect and honesty. She passed those values on through the lessons she taught, the examples she set, and the way she lived her own life.
Nonna had a gift for making things grow. Her love of gardening was a reflection of who she was: patient, determined, nurturing, and never afraid of hard work. She had a green thumb greater than anyone else, and her garden was a source of pride and joy. She knew how to bring life out of the earth, and those who knew her will always remember the beauty she created with her own hands.
She also loved to cook. Her cooking was another way she cared for people, bringing family and friends together around a table and passing down skills, traditions, and recipes that will continue to live on.
Nonna believed strongly in taking care of oneself and staying active; this is what carried her through the difficult years of her illness. Her strength and resilience always amazed all doctors. Even in her last years, she showed others by example, with a positive outlook and determination - she never gave up. Her determination and will to fight was something to admire. The family wishes to thank St. Joseph’s Hospital (Nephrology/Dialysis Dept) with a special thank you and profound love to physicians Dr Sasal, Dr Berbece, Dr Rao, Dr Kang, Dr K, and the entire nursing staff from Robert, Minerva, and countless team members from both the Main and Satellite Titan Units who all became her family”.
The Brescacin family grew from their children Roberto and Sandra. Her late son Roberto and his wife Marie soon made her a nonna with Stephanie and Christina. Christina and her husband Daniel made her a bis-nonna (Olivia) that filled her life with so much joy. Her daughter Sandra married Jean-Paul and added two more granddaughters to the family of women with their daughters Danielle, Nicole, and dog (another girl!) Walnut, whom she looked forward to seeing all the time.
Her family will remember her strength and zest for life, her friends will remember her loyalty and kindness, and those who learned from her will remember her wisdom and parables. Those who ate her cooking will remember the love she put into every meal. Anyone lucky enough to see her garden will remember a woman who could make anything grow.
Nonna leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by the years she lived, but by the lives she influenced and the lessons she left behind. She taught those around her to be strong, to work hard, to care for others, to look after themselves, to keep everything clean and proper, and to live with courage and character.
She may have been small in stature, but Clara lived a very big life. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of those who knew her.
Rest peacefully, nonna. Your garden may grow quiet, but the seeds you planted in the lives of others will continue to grow forever.
In Lieu of giving flowers, please donate St Joseph’s Hospital (Nephrology/Renal Department).
