Rosario Cilia

Rosario (Ross) Cilia was born on January 29, 1936 and peacefully passed away on October 5, 2022. The second youngest son of deceased Giovanni and Maria Cilia, and brother to deceased Giovanni Battista, Orazia, Santo Luigi, Giovanna, Salvatore, Giuseppe and Carmela.

Beloved husband of Maria (nee Occhipinti) and father of Robert (wife: Joan Wells); Aldo (wife: Lisa Carnevale) and Rita (husband Roberto Patlan).

Grandfather of Carlo, Chiara, Ilana, Alessandro, Mikayla, Jonah, Ariana, Kady and Liam Evoy (wife: Jaceil Blatz) and great-grandfather to Alexander.

Ross leaves behind his sister-in-laws Elena and Salvatrice in Italy and sister-in law Silvana in Canada, as well as nephews and nieces in both countries.

Jack of all trades and master of most. He started working at the young age of 9 as an assistant to a local shoemaker and then at the age of 14, he worked as a stonemason apprentice, which later became his lifelong career. At the age of 18, he immigrated to Toronto in 1954 with brothers Giuseppe and Salvatore to join their brother Luigi. He worked in construction until 1956 and moved to British Columbia, where he worked in a silver mine in Smithers BC, shoveling silver ore into rail cars and blasting ore in the mine. Later he worked as a lumber jack in Hazelton BC and then in Revelstoke BC, clearing trees for the Trans-Canada Highway at Rogers Pass in the Rocky Mountains. In 1959 he traveled back to his hometown of Ragusa, Sicily where he married Maria in 1959 and both returned to Toronto to start their new life.

For the remainder of his career, he operated his own business and worked as a stonemason, bricklayer and tile setter on residential, commercial and industrial projects. His work can still be seen around the Greater Toronto Area and in other parts of Ontario. His claim to fame, and for which his stonemason skills were most sought after, were his fieldstone fireplaces and verandas and he always stayed true to his modus operandi “work smart not hard”.

Upon retirement, he dedicated much of his time enjoying his grandchildren, inventing, fixing almost anything that needed fixing and gardening. He occasionally enjoyed a good glass of whiskey or scotch and always a good glass of homemade wine with dinner. He taught his children many skills, but the ones that will remain in the forefront are how to make cheese, smoked salmon, sausage and cured meats.

His love for his family was second to none. A devoted father and mentor to many. He leaves his family much too soon and will forever be in their hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Please visit the following link: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/

A visitation for Rosario will be held Monday, October 10, 2022, between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm at Jerrett Funeral Homes, 660 Kennedy Road, Toronto, ON M1K 2B5. The funeral service will occur Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Jerrett Funeral Homes with a reception to follow.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.jerrettfuneralhome.com for the Cilia family.