Bruna Dalla Gasperina

Bruna was born on November 28, 1923 to Angela and Angelo Garbin in the small village of Celarda, Italy in the province of Venice in Northern Italy. Her father came to America shortly before her birth, so she was raised by her mother and Nonno. With an older sister, Dina and younger Silvia they navigated life through a war-torn Italy. She had many stories of the war and what it was like. But she loved her mountains and streams around her home.

Shortly after the war ended, her mother and younger sister moved to Portland, Oregon to join her father. A few years later she married Victor, a young man also from Celarda. They had 3 children, Tiziano, Graziano and Lucio and lived in same house she grew up in.

In 1960, the five of them boarded a ship and sailed to America in hope of a better life even though they did not know the language and had to borrow the money to make the trip. They joined her mother and sister in Portland. Her father passed away several years earlier. The family took up temporary residence in the All Saints parish rectory. Victor worked at Mt. Calvary Cemetery and saved enough to put a down-payment on a house in Southeast Portland: a house where she lived until she passed away.

In 1961, she gave birth to her youngest son, Marco. She and Victor worked tirelessly to provide their children with a Catholic Education. She would sew clothes, mend garments and work in the evenings with Victor doing janitorial work. Her children grew, carrying the same faith and work ethic their parents exemplified.

In time, her children married, and grandchildren were her light and joy. Tragedy struck the family in 1993 when her son Graziano passed away from cancer. Again in 2000 when her beloved Victor died. And again in 2020 when Tiziano also succumbed to cancer. Her nine grandchildren became the center of her life and her love for them was ever-evident.

On September 10, 2025 she departed this world to join Victor, Tiziano, and Graziano. She died peacefully in the home where she raised her children.

It is difficult to imagine how many were touched and how deeply by her presence on this earth. From the dresses she made, sweaters she knit, meals she cooked, vegetables she grew, offices she cleaned, advice she gave (whether you wanted it or not!), and prayers she offered. She was a deeply faithful woman and that faith pervaded every aspect of her life. It was a life of sacrifice and joy for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She will be missed by all those she touched, and we look forward to seeing her again.

She is survived by sons Lucio and Marco; Daughters-in-law Jody (Tiziano), Connie (Graziano), Marta (Lucio), Ann (Marco); grandchildren Lucio, Montano, Gino, Gianna, David, Maria, Dante, Ilena and Ermes; great-grandchildren Graziano, Nico, Sienna, Enzo, Luca, Birdie Joy, Phoebe, Audry and Leo.