Filippo Navarra

A devoted husband, father, brother, and friend, he cherished time spent with loved ones. He is survived by his wife, Hélène (née Lafontaine); his children, Marie-Hélène (James), Pietro (Adrienne), and Alessandro (Amanda); and six grandchildren, Kara (Shawn), Philip, Filippo, Gennaro, Hélèna, and Caterina. He is also survived by his sister, Catherine (Dave), and nephews Peter and Andrew (Felicia), all of whom will continue to honour his legacy of love and resilience.

He was born on February 20, 1947, in the coastal Mediterranean town of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. At five years old, he left all he knew and embarked on a ship to Canada with his mother, Caterina (née Crociata), to rejoin his father, Pietro, in Montreal. As an immigrant, he took on many responsibilities at a young age. Despite early struggles, he led a life filled with love, generosity, and an unwavering dedication to his family and friends. A graduate of McGill University, he pursued a career in teaching science and math, making a lasting impact on many students. Alongside his teaching career, he worked tirelessly to build a stable future for his family by investing in revenue properties. His dedication and perseverance led to great success, allowing him to retire at the age of 50.

In his retirement, he accomplished one of his life long dreams : the renovation of the property he inherited from his parents, known as la “Villa Foggia” in his hometown of Castellammare — a lasting monument to his skill and determination.

Fil was known for his boundless generosity, love of learning, and friendly, outgoing nature —bringing light and warmth to all who knew him. He also had a strong sense of duty and honour and, on more than one occasion, successfully fought for his rights as well as for the rights of others.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 16, from 2:00–5:00 PM and 7:00–9:00 PM at Collins and Clarke Funeral Home, where family and friends will gather to celebrate his remarkable life. The church service will be held at St-Monica’s Parish on Monday, March 17, at 11:00 AM, followed by the burial at Mont-Royal Cemetery at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to The Montreal Heart Institute Foundation in memory of Filippo Navarra.

Though he may no longer walk among us, Fil’s spirit will live on through the countless lives he touched. His generosity, wisdom, and love will forever be cherished and remembered.

Rest in peace, dear Fil. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

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