Maria Teresa Cordiano

6 October 1935 - 25 June 2026

With understanding we announce the passing of our beloved Maria Teresa Bruna DeFrancesco Cordiano, on June 25, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 90.

Born in Serra San Bruno, VV, Italy to Raffael and Maria Grazia DeFrancesco and emigrating to Toronto sixty two years ago upon marrying her devoted heartbroken husband Rodolfo Cordiano.

Passionate mother to Rosa and Joseph (Louisa), ardent legal guardian to Sherie (Christopher) and William (Mako). Second mother to her devastated sisters, Pina (Felice), Franca (Vincenzo), and Clorinda (Eduardo).

Reunited with her pre deceased Serrese confidants, Carmela Carrera, Carmela Papallo, Dama Calaminici.

Stoically enduring multiple eye surgeries (40’s), double by pass after a cardiac arrest (60’s), double hip replacements (70’s), never stopped believing in miracles and divine providence, overcoming and inspiring.

A devout Catholic to her core, daily recited the rosary, where at eighteen was presented with the “Fadda” a 365 cotton knotted rosary that she recited additionally to commemorate the Madonna di Pompéi and the Assumption. With her sister Pina became a Francican Terzaria, pledging service to others.

Service to her family, friends, neighbours, feeding them at her table, clothing, sheltering, consoling, encouraging, laughing and crying.

Fiercely intelligent, a life long learner and avid reader, absorbed all her teachings, initiating by these side of her grandmother Teresina. Where unaccepting anything of inferior quality learned to make bread, pasta, knit, sew, crochet, embroidery, from butcher’s salami, from neighbours, wine, cookies, cakes, multi course cherished dinners that were enjoyed by all are multi ethnic friends that graced our home and we call family.

Unable to read or continue completing cover to cover her weekly “La Settimana Enigmistica”, in 2013, her new iPad connected to the world. Daily face to face conversations with her beloved sister Franca, rosary recitation direct from Lourdes and Fatima whose pilgrimage thereto were fulfilled, audibly participating in daily Mass from varying Italian parishes, she filled her mornings. Virtually travelling the world and keeping up with Pope Frances and Pope Leo. In the count down to her final minutes called Maria to thank her for her emailed family photos and anticipating our nightly 7:30 p.m. call with our beloved Helena.

Encapsulating such a treasure of a person that we all called Mother has been difficult, but hope to have transmitted the beauty and the essence the reverberates in us all the at read these words. Your destination is heaven. God blessed.