Giovannina La Chimea

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Giovannina La Chimea (nee Mete) on June 9th, 2022. Giovannina was born on the 15th of December, 1947 in Sambiase, Italy. The eldest of six, she was a kind, selfless and principled woman who always prioritized the needs of others before her own. When Giovannina was seventeen, she met the love of her life, Vittorio, and they married in 1965. They immigrated from Italy to Vancouver in 1966 to begin their new life together settling first in the Italian district on Commercial Drive.

Giovannina was a great cook and worked at several restaurants on Commercial Drive including “Il Corsaro” and “Arriva Ristorante”. She had an affinity for children and spent many years babysitting. Her and Vittorio enjoyed socializing with friends and loved to dine and dance weekly at “Luigi’s Moka” in Vancouver. In 1993, she moved to Powell River with her husband Vittorio who had semi-retired. There she made many new friends. She enjoyed her flower garden, playing scratch and win bingo, but above all she cherished the time spent with her grandchildren making them special Italian dishes, telling jokes and playing with the family cat “Fifi”.

Giovannina was a loving wife, exceptional mother, caring sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She is survived by her husband Vittorio, children Rosanna, Marisa and Antonio, grandchildren Adrianna and Massimo, siblings Maria, Vittoria, Giuseppe, Gina and Rita, and many nieces, nephews and cousins in both Italy and Canada. Her sudden passing has evoked an anguish in us that will never subside. Giovannina was truly an extraordinary and virtuous woman who departed from us far too soon and will always be remembered and dearly missed.

Il tuo sorriso caloroso e cuore generoso hanno portato tanta gioia nelle nostre vite. Abbiamo il cuore spezzato senza di te. Niente e nessuno potrà mai sostituire la tua presenza.

A Prayer Service will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 2025 Napier Street in Vancouver on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 11:00 am. Cremation to follow. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GlenhavenMemorialChapel.com for the La Chimea family.