Vincenzo Antonio Cannizzaro

Antonio was born in a charming remote Medieval village in the town of Monterosso, Calabria in Southern

Italy on Tuesday June 7th, 1927.

Antonio started his life in Winnipeg until his wife Rosina, also from Monterosso, joined him later. Together, they started a humble and beautiful life, raising four children, while learning a new culture and adapting to a novel way of life. Antonio worked as a master tailor in the garment industry in Winnipeg and in New York City at the famed Abram Strauss. He was an avid traveler and loved creating a beautiful garden and sharing Mediterranean culinary delights with family and friends.

As a family, we attended church often. We learned a lot of cultural education from our parents, about food, heritage, family, and traditions. Our father possessed a beautiful character, characterized by gentility, kindness, softness, reflection, and humility and always saw life through the eyes of God. He encouraged us to lead a faith-based life. Antonio was extremely modest and understated. He would diminish himself so as to highlight some beauty in you. He would give you the shirt off his back and live without one so as to ensure your comfort.

We hope your tomorrow brings warm, gentle hands, easy breaths, the light of god, and the Mediterranean sun of your roots. As we use our hands and our hearts to lift you, we ask you to please … “walk by faith, and not by sight”.

Antonio is survived by his sister Theresa Farina and brother Joe Cannizzaro, as well as his four children and only grandchild; Vince Cannizzaro, Joseph Cannizzaro, Maria Fontaine, Laura Cannizzaro-Smith and Anthony Cannizzaro-Smith. He is also survived by his sons and daughter in law — Craig Smith, Robert Fontaine, Fiona Moola, Jane Daerden, and all the little pets that he loved.