Edda Albina Starai

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Edda Starai, at the age of 93, in Hamilton at the General Hospital. Edda will be dearly missed by sisters Alma and Nevia, son Antonio, Grandson Matthew, nieces Vesna, Antonia and Barbara, nephews Andy and Robert, and many loving cousins, in-laws and friends.

Edda was born in Piano di Rozzo, (Rocko Polije) Istria, then Italy which became Yugoslavia and is now Croatia. She was 7 years old when World War Two broke out. She told many stories of German soldiers buying eggs, Partisan Soldiers taking eggs and the occasional ground shaking bombardments.

She learned to sew from her mother and had a happy adolescence. She married, escaped to Italy and became a refugee. She eventually landed in Canada in 1960 with her husband, her five-month-old baby and two suitcases. She thrived as a mother, cook, and steward of the family, but was most renowned for making wedding dresses as a seamstress.

She was instrumental in the financial support for her family in Istra and sponsored the immigration of a brother and sister.

She worked for Tip Top Tailors and Shenka Tailors. She had a difficult marriage and eventually divorced once she found financial security through employment at McMaster University Hospital.

She took early retirement from the Linen Department at McMaster, and yet, during her retirement, she sewed, performed cleaning at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, and catered special church events with friends. (She would accumulate left overs from these special events that would feed her son and grandson thereafter.) She did spend all these part-time earnings on her grandson in order to protect her pension and savings.

Edda was a good, hard-working person and a friend to everyone. Anyone would find it difficult to leave her home on an empty stomach.

In her final years, Edda suffered from dementia, and yet, from time to time, she would apologize for her situation and behaviour, (quite remarkable).

This excerpt will never demonstrate how much she did accomplish. Rest in Peace Edda Starai, you did a great job.

As per family wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of life and visitation will be held at Marlatt Funeral Home, Swackhamer Chapel (905-627-7452), 195 King Street West, Dundas, on Friday April 10, 2026, from 12pm-1pm followed by a funeral service at 1pm. Interment will take place in Burlington at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery after the funeral service.