Sestilia Paolina DeLuca

Riposa in Pace

God bless you Mamma and Nana. We’ll miss you so.

Father in Heaven, hear our prayer,

Guard our mother with tender care.

Love her as much as we loved her.

It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Mamma, Nana and Super-Nana, Sestilia, on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 at the age of 99.

Sestilia will be greatly missed by her children: Nella (Bruce), Anita (Chris), Fausto (Marjorie), Frank (Susan); her beloved grandchildren: Phil (Jenna), Leah (Tony), Mike (Lauren), Laura (David), Kiara (Jessie), and cherished great-grandchildren, Harper, Weston, Ophelia and Emma. To Sestilia, family was everything. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest treasures and she expressed her endless capacity for love in her own beautiful words: with every new child, grandchild and great-grandchild, your heart just grows bigger.

Also left to mourn her passing are her sisters Maria of Chicago, Rita of Kelowna, and sister-in-law, Genoeffa. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Stano (May 31,1996), parents Francesco and Giovannina Putaro, brothers Giuseppe, Mario, and Luigi, sisters Delia, and Eleanora, brothers-in law, Frank, Francesco, Antonio and Rino, and sister-in-law, Maggie. She will also be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Sestilia was born March 10th, 1925 in Lappano, Cosenza, Italy to Francesco and Giovannina Putaro. In 1950 she married Stano, who emigrated to Winnipeg in February, 1952 to seek work and establish a home. Later on July 13th, 1953, Sestilia and infant daughter, Nella sailed from Naples on the Andrea Doria to join Stano in Winnipeg to begin the next chapter of their lives. Thankful for the opportunities offered to them in their new country, and always ready to share their good fortune, they frequently hosted other family members who made the journey to Winnipeg.

A strong, hard-working woman, Sestilia was determined to make a good life for her family. She worked as a seamstress in several Winnipeg clothing factories and at Plaza Drapery for twenty years. During this time, she raised her four children; cooking, cleaning, baking and making sure her beloved garden was always filled with the fresh fruit and vegetables that went into every carefully prepared dish. Everyone was welcome at her table, and family and friends spoke in awe of her incredible breads and pastas, preserved goods and pasta sauces, cakes, dainties and cookies. Nana’s peaches and cannoli were legendary and the centerpiece of many weddings and special celebrations. She was also a skilled craftswoman. Using her considerable knitting and crocheting skills, she produced beautiful baby clothes and blankets that every family member still treasures to this day.

As a young girl Sestilia was very proud of her achievements at school and always wanted to become a teacher, but family finances made this an impossible dream. Her natural teaching instincts eventually emerged in her interactions with her own family. She was always there for her children, offering them advice, wisdom and life lessons, as well as passing on her famous recipes and cooking techniques. She taught her grandchildren and great-grandchildren the values of caring, kindness, hospitality and generosity, leading them by her own example and showering them with endless love and hugs and kisses.

Sestilia lived a long and fruitful life that left a mark on all who knew her and a legacy of love that will live on in every member of her family. She was happiest when surrounded by her family and cherished all the happy times spent together.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Tuxedo Villa, who became her second family as well as the wonderful doctors and nurses at the Health Sciences Centre who helped us through her final days.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, May 25th at Holy Rosary Church, 510 River Ave. Condolences at 9:00 a.m. Mass at 10:00 a.m.

Entombment at the Chapel of Eternal Memories Mausoleum, 1501 Waverley St.

Pallbearers will be Phillip Neuendorff, Mike DeLuca, Tony Mitousis, Jessie Gesualdo, Luigi Gervino, and Joe Putaro

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Mamma, Nana, we will always feel your presence in our lives

In the stories you told and the traditions you handed down.

We’ll treasure the lessons you taught and honour the values you stood for

They are your gift and your legacy.

Your devotion had no limit.

You surrounded us with love.

May you soar with the angels

Because you will always be our guardian angel.