Celeste (Charlie) Bazzana

Longtime Rutland resident Celeste “Charlie” Bazzana passed away on December 26, 2024 at the age of 89. He is survived by sister Ivonne of Tarvisio, Italy, sons Dale of Kelowna, Kevin (Sharon) of Brentwood Bay, and Gordon (Patrice) of Kelowna, grandson Aaron (Karen) along with great grandson Nathan of Burnaby, and partner Barbara Dieno of Kelowna.

Celeste was born to Valentino & Santa Bazzana and grew up with siblings Giovanni, Ivonne and Albino in the village of Tarvisio in the mountains of northern Italy. Celeste immigrated to Canada in 1953, joining brother Giovanni and maternal grandfather Celeste Paron at the Nordegg Mine in Alberta. It was at the mine where both Celestes were given the nickname Charlie.

When the mine shut down a few months after arriving, Celeste headed for Kelowna, home to his uncle Igino Bazzana and aunt Cestilia Culos (Bazzana). He found work at the Kelowna Machine Shop and after a short time was offered an apprenticeship as a machinist. In 1961 he accepted a machinist position at S.M. Simpson Sawmill where he remained for the next 39 years during its incarnations as Crown Zellerbach, Crown Forest, and Riverside Forest Products. He was well known as master of his field and a true craftsman.

In 1958 he married Jean Schneider, daughter of long-time Rutland residents John and Pauline Schneider. The couple bought land on Rutland Road and Celeste got to work building his own house (complete with wine cellar of course) which he finished in 1963. Jean passed away in 1994 but Celeste lived there for 58 years.

Celeste was an enthusiast of Italy’s favourite pastimes; soccer, skiing, bocce and, of course, wine.

The first order of business after arriving in Kelowna in 1954 was to join the local mens soccer team, the Kelowna Hotspurs. Newspaper articles from the time regularly describe him as one of the team’s star players. In the early 1970s Celeste became a youth soccer coach, propelling his Rutland team to multiple tournament victories and division championships.

The next order of business was to build from scratch a grape crusher and a sophisticated grape press in order make his own wine. Each fall Celeste (and any of his boys he managed to enlist) would be stained purple up to the elbows while the scent of fermenting grapes wafted throughout Rutland.

Growing up in the mountains of northern Italy, it was only natural that Celeste learned to ski at an early age. After settling in Rutland, he took up both downhill and cross-country skiing once again, and in the early days would frequent the ski hill on Black Mountain.

Celeste was a founding member of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club in 1966, and was also a member of the Kelowna Bocce Club and the Sons Of Italy. Bocce became a large part of Celeste’s life, especially after retirement. In addition to playing regularly and travelling to tournaments, Celeste worked tirelessly to maintain the local bocce courts and organize tournaments for the clubs and for the BC 55+ Games. In February 2020 Celeste and partner Barbara Dieno were the recipients of a City Of Kelowna “Community Sport Hero” award for their contribution to the promotion and development of the sport of bocce in the Okanagan.

Celeste will be forever remembered by family and friends as a kind and gentle soul. He will be greatly missed.

A Funeral Service for Celeste Bazzana will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday April 26, 2025 at Corpus Christi Parish, 750 Rutland Road North. A reception will follow.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com

Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services (Dignity Memorial) Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299