Maria Rosa Toselli

November 23, 1925 - May 19, 2020

Mimma (nee Malinverni), died peacefully on May 19, 2020 at the age of 94. Born in the city of Turin, capital of the Piedmont region in Italy, she was brought up in a family which combined traditional values with modern ideas. With the unfailing encouragementof her father, as a young woman she practiced many sports - swimming, diving, skating, tennis, hiking, and horseback riding. Sadly, these activities, as well as much of her everyday life, had to come to an end around the age of 15, when she had to endure the tragicrealities of World War II. She still managed to continue her studies of Italian Literature and Art History at the University of Turin, where she was an active member of FUCI, the Catholic student society under the spiritual direction provided by the Dominicans. After university she chose to forgo a professional career to fully devote herself to her family.

In the late 1970s' she and her husband Carlo decided to move with their three children to Canada and settled in West Vancouver, in a house and neighbourhood she loved for the rest of her life. She became involved in her community, always driven by her lovefor God and people near and far. She volunteered in many initiatives in her parish, and gave her unstinting support to a number of charities, including several pro-life organizations. In the last few years, she enjoyed attending Sunday Mass celebrated following the traditional Latin rite, which she knew well from her younger years. She surrounded herself with many friends, who could always count on her kindness and help. Giving as she was to the rest of the world, her dedication to her husband, children, and grandchildren only grew stronger with each passing year.

Mimma was predeceased by her husband Carlo (2006) and is survived and lovingly remembered by sons Angelo (Melissa), Vittorio, and Alberto, beloved grandchildren Dominic, Chiara (Jarred Thomas), and Francis, sister Alessandra Bitelli, nephews Giovanni (Silvia)and Alessandro (Nicole) Bitelli, very dear great-nieces Sandra, Maria, and Elena, cousins Toselli, Vigna-Taglianti, Imberti, Lorenzetti, and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Birthright of Vancouver, 1107-207 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1H7; alternatively, to Signal Hill, P.O. Box 45076, RPO, Langley Crossing, Langley BC, V2Y OC9.