Luigi Fiume

FIUME: Luigi .June 13, 1931 - July 30, 2018. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Luigi Fiume, a beloved husband, Babbo (Father) and Nonno (Grandfather), at the age of 87 years. Luigi will be greatly missed by his wife, Melina (Corcione), his children, Elena, Teresa and Roberto and their respective spouses, Ron, Corey and Sharon, his grandchildren, Alessia, Katrina, Antonio, Sofia, Olivia and Giorgia; his brothers in Italy, Ciro and Raffaele, and their families; and many extended family members. He was predeceased by his parents, Carmela and Pasquale, and three brothers. Luigi was born in Ponticelli, Napoli, Italy on June 13, 1931. As a young boy, Luigi grew up in war torn, poverty stricken Italy where life was a struggle, and as one of the older siblings he always strived to help raise and protect his brothers with the hope of a better future. At 24, he met his future bride, Melina, and in 1956 they were married and soon departed Italy in search of better opportunities to a new home in the Canadian north. Luigi admitted, many years later that Australia was actually his preferred destination but his mother hid his visa approval from him when it arrived in the mail. Settling in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Luigi found work in the often difficult and dangerous underground conditions of Cominco gold mine. In 1957, Luigi and Melina began to grow their new family welcoming the birth of their first daughter, Elena. Over the next few years, the family made Yellowknife a home, but visited Napoli as often as they could. In 1966 and 1969 Teresa and Roberto were born. As their family grew, so did their home - Luigi is fondly remembered for hand digging the basement used as the wine-cellar in their new house, as well as building his cabin at Madeline Lake on the outskirts of Yellowknife - where he set up elaborate means (of varying success) in an attempt to keep bears from breaking in. Over the next many years, hard work at Cominco (Con Mine) and thrifty ways allowed Luigi to acquire a number of properties which inevitably were tenanted by a succession of colourful Yellowknife characters - some of whom he became fast friends with. In 1979, Luigi, supported by his family, accomplished his long held dream and opened an Italian Deli and take-out pizzeria - “Luigi’s Salumeria”, which quickly became a Yellowknife institution specializing in homemade pizzas attracting many crowds of customers. Tiring of long, cold winters, in 1986, Luigi “retired” to the Okanagan - where he accomplished his second long-held dream fostered by his youth in the urban farmlands around Napoli - that of acquiring a large plot of land. He cultivated his 10-acre orchard in West Kelowna with grapes, apples, cherries, apricots, walnut and chestnut trees that became a popular U-Pick destination. Luigi’s love of the outdoors was evident in his garden creations and his dark summer tan acquired through hours spent in his favourite place - his land. Fall would see him picking, crushing and making many barrels of home-made wine and canning plum tomatoes with his family while teaching his grandchildren this Italian tradition. Over the years, Luigi acquired and managed many properties across B.C. He was a self-taught business man, inventor, creator, winemaker and an amazing gardener full of determination, hard work and an adventurous spirit. In his younger years, Luigi loved to travel and had a curiosity for foreign lands. In his older years, he loved nothing more than to be near his home, his garden and his loving wife whom he fiercely loved and who will be remembering 62 years of marriage to Luigi on August 5th. He was a spiritual man with deep faith who looked forward to his ritual of watching Sunday mass from Rome. As his family grew, so did Luigi’s pride in the achievements of his children and six grandchildren. Luigi’s home was his castle, and he wanted nothing more than to be there surrounded by his family. He was happy to have been able to remain at home, together with Melina and his family, until very shortly before his passing. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, August 3rd at 2:00 pm at Our Lady of Lourdes, 2547 Hebert Road West Kelowna. Inurnment will follow in the Westbank Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com. Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299