Pamela Marie Gasparetto

Predeceased by her parents Malcolm & Margaret (Robar) Lancaster, Pam leaves behind her dedicated husband of 50 years Renato, children Angela Gasparetto (Matthew Twaddell), Amy Gasparetto (Carlo Carratelli) and Michael Gasparetto (Aimee Carson), and four grandchildren: Francesco, Susannah, Ava and Siena. Also left behind are her sister, Margo Sullivan, many nieces, nephews, cousins, brother- and sister-in-laws, and the family cat, Larry Tiger.

Born on March 28, 1947 at the Grace Maternity in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Pam spent her early years in the North End of Halifax and Purcell’s Cove. Her family moved to Bellevue Cottage on Gottingen Street when she was a teenager where she lived with her parents until marrying Renato in 1974. Pam was a proud Haligonian and loved the sea.

Pam graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1968 and an Education degree in 1969 from Dalhousie University. She taught French, Spanish and History for four years at Richmond School and Fairview Junior High. Fatefully, Pam was teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants at night school where she met student Renato Gasparetto, her future husband (she only agreed to go on a date with him AFTER the course finished). Pam loved teaching - her skills and passion for it permeated different parts of her life. However, after the birth of their first child, Angela, she stepped away from professional teaching to devote all of her time to her family and later to many volunteer pursuits.

Pamela and Renato’s first apartment was on Crown Drive near the Armdale Rotary. In 1975 they bought their first house, a white bungalow, on Topsail Blvd in Dartmouth, and then moved to Deepwood Crescent in Clayton Park where their children spent most of their childhood. The house on Deepwood was a hub of activity - with yearly Epiphany parties, amazing Christmas and Halloween decorations, kids coming and going, family meals - all master-minded by Pam, who continuously supported her children’s many extra-curricular activities and Renato’s busy work life. Eventually Pam and Renato moved to Black Point on the ocean into a house they designed together and where they stayed for 19 years until they moved to their current home (also designed by them) in West Bedford. Pam had an eye for creating spaces - she chose every colour and fixture in the houses they built, and decided where every picture and vase went. She had great taste and was creative and meticulous in the creation of each home.

Pam was a very active parent in the Clayton Park community, involved with the PTA and the children’s schools. Although she wasn’t Italian, when Pam married Renato she not only learned how to cook amazing Italian food, she also became an active member of the Canadian-Italian community. Pam taught Sunday school at Brunswick Street United Church, and later at her beloved St Patrick’s Catholic Church, where she and Renato got married and where she was an active part of the community for decades. Pam made meals for Meals on Wheels, cooked and served at Hope Cottage, and was a committed blood donor for the Red Cross. Pam taught a number of people English as a Second Language through the library system, as well as Adult Education classes with Spryfield Continuing Education, and in the early 90s was a volunteer Tai Chi teacher with the Halifax Tai Chi Association. Always curious about life, history and the world, in her later years Pam attended ‘Seniors’ College’ at Bloomfield School taking various courses.

Pam was a very generous, smart and kind person who was loved by many. She had numerous interests like travelling, learning about other cultures, gardening, reading, British television programs (including All Creatures Great & Small and Coronation Street, of which she was a life-long fan), music, art and museums. She loved folk art and was always in search of new local artists to discover and support. This is only a small slice of all of the things Pam did and enjoyed, always with her primary focus being to support her husband’s career, her children's aspirations and her parents Malcolm and Margaret (aka Puppy and Granny to the family) with whom she was extremely close.

All who knew Pam knew how lovely and special she was - someone who wasn’t scared to express her thoughts, who was sincere, and always looking to help others. She was the queen of sending cards (even Halloween cards to her kids when they moved away from home), wanting people to know they were in her heart. She sponsored and corresponded with numerous children through Foster Parents Plan International. Her children’s friends loved spending time with her and many called her Mummy Pam. She will be missed by so many, especially her family - she was our sunshine.

The final weeks of her life brought many angels into her sphere and the family would like to thank the VON, especially Nurse Jamie Cull, who near the end of Pam’s life was of huge help and comfort to the family; the Palliative Care team of Nurse Cara and Dr. Hewitt, who helped make it possible for Pam to pass comfortably at home; to our wonderful neighbour Dr. Warren Fieldus, who was always ready to help us when in need; Tania and Anthony Delaney who have been particularly close to the family during this difficult time. Thanks to all of our extended family, especially Nora & Norma Baldasso, who in Pam’s final weeks gave great support and care to her and the family.

The family would like to extend a special heartfelt thank you to Jharmaine (TaTa) Gaitan and Susan Comeau for their reliable and loving help in caring for our beloved wife and mother - we are immensely grateful.

Visitation is Wednesday, April 9, 2-4pm and 6-8pm at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. The funeral service will be held Thursday, April 10, 11am at St Catherine of Siena Church, 6476 Bayers Road, (the funeral will be livestreamed https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=a99e0df9-2218-416f-add8-2ce3ac2976e9 ), followed by a reception. Private family burial to follow.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her honour to the Canadian Cancer Society.