Maria Saletta Urbani

May 14, 1943 - San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria, Italy

December 10, 2025 - Comox, BC

Maria Saletta Urbani, beloved wife of Antonio of Comox, BC, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the age of 82 years. Maria was born in San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria, Italy on May 14, 1943. In 1954, 11 year old Maria moved to Calgary, AB, Canada, with her parents and siblings. Life in Calgary during that time was difficult for Italian immigrants and Maria often spoke about the challenges she faced during school and the harsh reality of an Alberta winter. In 1963 Maria met and married the handsome and dashing Antonio. Maria and Antonio created a beautiful family in Calgary, welcoming their three children, Anne, Michael and Lora.

In 1982, Maria and Antonio moved their family to Kelowna. There they spent the next 40 years raising their family while enjoying everything the Okanagan Valley had to offer. Hundreds of pounds of hand picked tomatoes became succulent sauce nourishing the family throughout the year. Maria and Antonio were a dynamic team in all they turned their hands to. From 1986 to 1990, they owned and operated Daybreakers restaurant in Kelowna, a popular place for locals to gather for some excellent comfort food. Antonio did the cooking and Maria played the consummate host, ensuring that all the customers, regulars or otherwise, were welcomed and treated like family.

Over the years in Kelowna, Maria watched her children go off to have families of their own, and she and Antonio welcomed with tremendous joy and pride the arrival of their four grandchildren, Madeline, Elizabeth, Alexander and Danielle.

Maria was always an amazing cook, honing especially her famous gnocchi and meatballs. She was in her element when preparing gnocchi for family and friends, especially for her grandchildren. Who doesn’t love a big bowl of gnocchi as an “appetizer” before a full Christmas turkey dinner!?

In 2022, Maria and Antonio were on the move again, relocating to the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island to be closer to their children and grandchildren. It was in Comox that they built their lovely little coach house on Lora and Al’s property.

They visited almost daily with the beautiful community they established at the stairs at Goose Spit in Comox. Maria was an absolute legend at “the Stairs”, inspiring the community with her tenacity in tackling the 160 + steps multiple times each day, almost until the very end.

Maria is survived by her daughter Anne (Derek), son Michael, daughter Lora (Al); grandchildren Madeline, Elizabeth, Alex, and Danielle; along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Maria was predeceased by her soul mate Antonio, her brothers, Joseph and Anthony; her sister Serafina; and her daughter-in-law Helen (Michael).