Francesco Rella

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Francesco Rella on April 13, 2026, at the age of 98. He was predeceased by his father Alfonso, his mother Rosalia, his sisters Gianna, Carmela, and Giuseppina, and his brother Santino.

Franco is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Carmelina; his children Alfonso (Rita), Patricia (Bruno), and Carlo; his cherished grandchildren Amanda (Curtis), Alexandra, Giulia (Davide), and Luca; his great-granddaughter Anna; his brother Carlo (Doris); as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family in Italy.

Franco was born in Messina, Sicily, Italy, and migrated to Genova in 1933 with his family. He spent 15 years as a merchant marine, travelling the world and experiencing many adventures in places such as Japan, the Suez Canal, the Persian Gulf, New York, and South America. In 1959, he began the greatest journey of his life when he settled in Vancouver, married Carmelina and together raised their three children in their family home on Woodland Drive in East Vancouver.

Following his retirement in 1993 from Norco Products, Franco devoted his time to his family, making wine, gardening, taking photos, and attending estate sales where he had a keen eye for finding and collecting antiques. A devoted Catholic, he attended Mass regularly and found great comfort in his faith. Franco had a gift for bringing smiles to those around him, especially during his past year at Broadway Lodge, where he enjoyed exercising, playing shuffleboard and taking rickshaw rides around False Creek.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by his family and friends around the world.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 555 Slocan Street, Vancouver on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 11:00 am.

Entombment will follow at Ocean View Burial Park, South Mausoleum, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Franco’s memory may be made to the BC Lung Foundation in support of COPD research.

Il Signore ti benedica.