Raffaele Renna

He leaves behind his loving wife of nearly 63 years, Emilia; his daughters Marilina, Roberta, and Trish (Greg); his cherished grandchildren Chantal (Nathan), Vanessa, Natasha (Alex), and Jessica; and his precious great-granddaughter Penny. He is also survived by his sister Carmela (Raniero).

Dad will be missed by in-laws and many neices and nephews in Canada, Italy, France and Venezuela. He was predeceased by his parents, Pasqualina and Angelo, and his siblings.

Born in Fontanarosa, Avellino, Italy, Raffaele built a life defined by hard work, resilience, and devotion to family. A master plasterer by trade and a true craftsman in every sense, he was the family’s real-life MacGyver — able to fix, build, or reinvent anything with a few tools, some wire, and pure determination. If something broke, you called Dad.

He loved sports, especially soccer — once the game was on, nothing short of a miracle could pull him away. He found peace in his garden, proudly sharing his fruits and vegetables, homemade wine, and preserves with family, wonderful neighbours and friends. After a long day’s work, his favourite reward was resting in his hammock strung between the peach and pear trees in the backyard, baseball cap tipped over his eyes, Italian music playing loud — his well-earned moment of quiet contentment.

Raffaele had a fiery, unforgettable spirit and a one-of-a-kind personality. He didn’t hand out compliments lightly — they were rare. The closest you could get to his approval was when he’d smile and say, “Now you can get married.” His love showed in his own tough-guy way — fiercely protective as the father of three daughters and four granddaughters, intimidating every hopeful suitor. He taught his girls life skills at the card table, playing scopa on the veranda, calling everyone “ciuch” with a grin, and somehow turning every game into a math lesson.

He built the family home on Westroyal with his own hands 54 years ago, where loud Italian Sunday lunches and year-round BBQs became the heart of countless memories.

We will forever remember Dad for his wisdom, humour, and unique way of looking at life—his beloved “Ralphism” always brought a smile: “Everyone makes their own mistakes,” “Ma, you believe this?” and our favourite, “For me, it’s okay.” If he ever shared a “Ralphism” with you, we’d love to hear it and keep his words alive.

Raffaele lived — and left this world — on his own terms. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Sempre nei nostri cuori.

In his memory, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, or Humber River Hospital.