On May 9th, 2024, after a short illness, surrounded by his wife and children, Rossano left this earth to repose in heaven with his father Luigi, and mother, Giovanna.
He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Maria Luisa (Macario), his children, Giovanna DiNicola and husband Glenn Tichon and their son Ryan, and Rossano DiNicola and his wife Jade Anne and their children Sofia, Lucas, and Layne.
He leaves to mourn his sisters who reside in Italy; Anna and her children Maria Laura, Adelia, and Pier Luigi; Maria Luisa, and her children Marco, Giovanna, and Gabriella, and Paola and her children, Simona and Antonio. His brother-in-law Frank Macario, his wife Marianne and their children Anne and husband Adam and Brad and his wife Taryn and all their children will also miss him greatly.
Rossano began his life in Pescina, Italy on March 7, 1945. He came from humble beginnings, like most during those years, and lived happily with his parents and 3 sisters. He lived close to the church and was often called to be an altar boy, to go out into the town to bless homes, and to participate in religious processions.
His grandfather took him to the cemetery to build crypts and chapels which led him to enroll in a trade school to learn the art of bricklaying. His first job was in Bern, Switzerland in 1962 where he honed his skills.
In 1965, he followed his sister Maria Luisa to Winnipeg where he worked at Grain Masters as a welder. Even then, he understood how to diversify his skills in his new country. He connected to the Italian community through joining family events, church, and cultural festivities.
Rossano met the love of his life at an Italian social event. After many escorted dates and the appropriate parents’ permission, in the height of the Christmas season, he popped the question. They married on September 14, 1968. Now able to be unescorted, they would cruise around Assiniboine Park in his red 1964 Bellaire. On one day, they came upon a beautiful home on Park Blvd. He pulled the car over and told his young wife that one day he would build her a home just like that in Tuxedo. And so, he did.
Rossano started working as a tile setter with his uncle, Silvano who was an inspiration to his own entrepreneurship. Ross Ceramic Tile was born right after Luisa gave birth to Giovanna. He generously helped others with their home projects on weekends and evenings, which was the way in the Italian community.
In the 1980s, he began Rossano Enterprises. He was on the road to becoming a real estate magnate with the goal of retiring at age 45. And so, he did! His real intentions included providing an income for his wife and family into the future, which he also did.
The birth of little Rossanino rounded out the family in 1976. Rossano was so proud of his son, following in his footsteps, developing his craftsmanship, building his own business, and building family homes for his wife and children. Rossanino often joked that he was the one who refurbished the original 30-year-old tile work of his father.
Rossano belonged to many clubs where he shared friendships and good times. The Gruppo Sportivo Italiano, The Alpini, Roma, and Caboto Seniors group. He was a member of the Scanno Santo Eustachio Committee. He volunteered for Folklorama as the Security for decades. His big smile and blue eyes went a long way to calming the masses. He went to schools to teach students how to play Bocce, supported others in playing bingo. He was always helping others.
Weekends in the summer were spent with family and friends at Winnipeg Beach, Gimli and Birds Hill Park. He found much joy in being with his family, friends, and community. Over the years, the connections grew in numbers and the relationships were deepened.
He made wine every September. He pressed the grapes with his namesake by his side. Little Rossano helped him grind grapes late into the evening. What he didn’t know was that his boy would sneak down to the basement in the middle of the night to turn the press.
Rossano made the best wine. He saved some bottles for special occasions like his children’s weddings, grandchildren’s and nieces and nephew’s births. He was always thinking of others, always generous.
He drove his kids to school in his van which was really for carrying tiles and tools to the jobsite. It had only 1 seat so he fashioned overturned glue pails for them to sit. Sometimes he put a wood plank across the pails for a bench seat. He was fancy that way.
He learned English by watching sports on TV. He loved going to see the Blue Bombers play; he had seasons tickets with Carlo for many years. He loved the Minnesota Vikings and attended their game against the Detroit Lions at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. He donated $100 to keep the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg, but his first and true love was for Soccer. His club was A.S. Roma. In his more recent years, he followed the Champions League, UEFA, Premier League, and of course it was T-shirts for all when FIFA World Cup played. He celebrated Italy’s World Cup wins. It brought him happiness all the way to the final days of his life.
Rossano loved classical music. He was an opera enthusiast and had a vast collection of records. His favorite operas were La Traviata and Aida. When his children were young, he would play opera music loudly as their wake up call on the weekends.
Second to his love of Luisa was his love for Sofia Loren. One cannot imagine his joy when Sofia came to Winnipeg to promote her new perfume. He heard her on the CJOB talk show and phoned in. As the gentleman that he was, he asked and was granted permission to speak to her In Italian. He welcomed her to Winnipeg and congratulated her on the launch of her perfume. In 2008, Rossano and Jade Anne bestowed the name of Sofia on their newborn. It was icing on the cake to the birth of his first grandchild.
Rossano loved being a Nonno. Early retirement allowed him to be with his grandchildren every day after school as well as on weekends and holidays. They experienced the garden and picking tomatoes and apples together. In winter, they shoveled snow in the driveway. He shared his love of wine making with them. He played soccer, bocce and, cards with them, and they loved it all and they loved him even more.
Rossano travelled to Pescina 18 times. It was very important to him and Luisa to spend time with family and to attend events such as weddings, baptisms, and first communions. He was dedicated to family and to maintaining connections to his roots, his sisters, and their families.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all those who have reached out over the past few weeks with messages of support. A special thank you to Frank and Marianne Macario whose love and care during this difficult time has helped in ways that words cannot adequately express.
We will always remember the world’s greatest bocce ball player, the man who taught us all how to properly eat spaghetti, a Scopa champion, a man who made some potent home brew wine (that was never turned down), and the number 1 Roma Football/Team Italy fan. He has left us so thankful for all the memories of being with him. Unreplaceable and unforgettable.
Condolences at 10:00 am followed by Funeral Mass at 11:00 am at St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Parish
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