Michele and Giuseppina Vecchio were the first members of the Vecchio family to immigrate to Canada. They arrived in Fernie, BC, with their children, Battista and Mariantonia “Antonetta,” in 1920. Michele was a boiler room employee of the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal mine. He and Giuseppina moved to Winfield, BC, upon his retirement in 1949.

Their third child, Albert, was born in Fernie in 1922. Albert worked in the Crow’s Nest Company coal mines before following his sister, Antonetta, to Kelowna, BC. His first job in Kelowna was working for “Cap” Capozzi in his grocery store.

Ida was born in 1924, in Cleto, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. She was the daughter of Giovanni Russo and Genoveffa Pucci. Ida immigrated to Canada in 1938, helping her father homestead in Golden, BC. She and her sister, Elsie, who later married Valentino Rampone, cut logs into railroad ties for the CPR. In 1946, they moved to Winfield, BC, with her family and worked in the packinghouse. Ida married Albert Vecchio in 1948.

In 1947, Al built “Al’s Café” in Winfield. It was also the Greyhound bus stop, a popular truck stop, convenience store, and it had a billiards room on the bottom floor. Al built living quarters at the rear of the café. Their first daughter, Josephine (Joey), was born in 1957 and they all lived there until 1960, when Al and Ida built their family home in Rutland. A second daughter, Julie, arrived in 1961.

Al Vecchio was always involved in his community. He was director of the Winfield Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and the Winfield Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1975, Al and Ida sold the café and focused on land development and building rental units in the Rutland community.

After a short retirement, they built a commercial building and operated Café Bella Bimba from 1981 to 1989. Finally retired from the kitchen, Albert and Ida enjoyed their hobbies of bocce, curling, and travelling by motor home every year to California and Mexico.

Albert and Ida were actively involved in the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. Albert served as its president from 1978 - 1980 and was instrumental in opening the bocce courts at Kelowna’s Parkinson Recreational Centre.

Ida was very proud of her Italian heritage and was an organizer and teacher of the Italian language school, director of the Italian dancers and organized the club's participation in many cultural events such as the Christmas Mosaic and Kelowna’s Folkfest.

Al passed away in 2006, following Ida's passing in 1999. They are both laid to rest at the Lakeview mausoleum in Kelowna.

Adapted from a 2020 Courier article written Joey Vecchio, daughter.

Orlando Ungaro was born in Natal, BC, on May 9, 1931 to Ninno Ungaro (who was born in Cellara, Cosenza, Italy) and Emma (Pugliese) Ungaro (daughter of Phillip and Theresa Pugliese). As a young boy, who lost his father at 16 years old, Orlando worked for the coal company in Michel, BC, to help support the family. There were two sisters (Eleanor and Ida) and one brother (Alfred), all younger than him. He grew up in the small town of “Middletown”, amongst so many other Italian families. After graduation, he attended Normal School, in Victoria, BC, where he received his teaching certificate. He came back to Natal and married Frances Lipovski in 1951. 

Orlando taught school for almost 20 years starting in Jaffray, BC (as a 19-year-old principal), and then Natal, Sparwood, Fernie and finally, Kelowna.  During that time, he was always very active in his community, being a member of the Kinsmen Club and the fire department, He became the town’s first mayor (Reeve) and then mayor of Sparwood back in the 1960s. Orlando was instrumental in spearheading an urban renewal program to relocate residents from Natal, Michel and Middletown to Sparwood.
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Orlando and Frances raised five children; Karyn, Allan, Joe, Don and Mary. They operated a clothing and shoe store together for many years in Natal. They suffered a total loss of store and home to a fire in 1961. They moved their family to Kelowna in 1968, where he taught at KSS High School. He often received letters or notes from former students who thanked him for his mentoring and encouragement, for more than 30 years after his teaching career. Orlando had membership in the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, serving as its President in 1971 and 1973.

In 1970, Orlando decided to change careers and took his real estate course…running the very successful Hoover Realty Ltd for over 20 years.  As a real estate broker, he mentored and taught so many through the challenging decade of the 1980s, to become successful Realtors.  He never stopped teaching.  As well, Orlando and Frances were always cognizant of the needs and challenges of the less fortunate. They were very resourceful in reaching out to many families to give them a “leg up” and to help them realize their dreams. They never lost sight of their roots, and the perseverance, resilience and dedication required to rise from challenges that life brought along. 

After retiring from real estate, Orlando decided to have some retirement fun and started up a Music Box store in Kelowna…he loved nothing better than to demonstrate the music boxes and Rhythm Clocks  to all who would come in to his shop!

Orlando was predeceased by his wife, Frances, in December of 1999 and later passed away in January of 2006.

Contributed by Joe and Karyn, children.

Camillo Tinto was the second, of three sons, was born in Pennadomo, Abruzzo, Italy, to Antonio Tinto and Giovanna Lucci.   

In 1957, Camillo was 22 years old. The CN railway was looking for workers and promised a one year work contract in Canada, after which time, they could apply for landed immigrant status and Canadian citizenship.  Camillo and friend, Peter, both started working in Sicamous, BC, and ended up in Golden, BC. They met several Italian comrades, among them, Marziale DiFabrizio, a fellow Abruzzese. Come spring of 1958, the boys were looking for other work and Peter knew of a fellow Italian who had immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and so off the boys went! 

The boys soon found work in the construction industry. By 1963, Camillo and Marziale were the head carpenters of McPhillips construction. That spring, Camillo’s parents asked him to come back to Italy for a few months to help out, while his brother, Alfredo, recuperated from an illness.  Camillo decided to visit his coworker, Marziale, who also had returned to Italy.  

It was April, 1963, when his friend, Marziale, introduced Camillo to his sister, Adriana Bambina Difabrizio.  Born in 1942, she was one of twelve children born to Mariano Difabrizio and Vincenza Teti, from the town of Torricella Peligna, Abruzzo, Italy.  

Her father, Mariano, was a prisoner of war during WWII, but managed to escape and evade the Nazi’s. He passed away in 1953, when she was only 11 years old.  Life was hard for the widow and her remaining children. The youngest, Guido, was only 5 years old.

At 20 years old, Adriana, took the opportunity to work at a shoe factory in Milan, Italy. After realizing the job wasn’t for her, she returned to Torricella. Shortly after, she met her brother’s friend, Camillo Tinto.   They were married in July, 1963.  By August 1963, Camillo and Adriana were  living in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Camillo resumed his job with McPhillips Construction.  They went on to buy a house there. They had four children: Joan, Diana, Claudia and Tony. 

In 1972, Camillo got a job offer from a Winnipeg friend, Paul, who had moved to Kelowna, BC. He was designing and building homes and was in need of a good foreman.  After much consideration, in the spring of 1974, the Tinto family moved  to Kelowna.  Adriana got a job at Sunrise Bakery and Camillo built amazing houses, designed by Paul.  Camillo was encouraged to join the Italian Club and through this, he met and became friends with Frank Marcanio and Emilio Nanci.  He helped with the parade floats, and many other activities at the club. He was also part of the renovation team at the clubhouse. His favourite activity was playing Bocce and keeping the lanes in good working order. 

In the late 1980’s, Camillo started his own contracting business, with his son and son-in-laws. During this time, Adriana worked as the head chef at Pizza Patio and later on, Smitty’s. In 1995, they both retired, but Camillo was soon offered a position working with the Callahan family as a handyman for their properties. He worked with them until his official retirement, in 2000. 

Camillo and Adrianna enjoyed time with their seven grandkids, and working on their garden. Camillo lent out his skills as a carpenter to whomever needed it. Downsizing to a condo did not stop their love for gardening, so they maintained garden plots there. 

Camillo passed away at the age of 88, on Dec 17, 2023 and was laid to rest at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Contributed by Joan Tinto Sanders, daughter.

Louie (Luigi Giovanni) Russo was born in Golden, BC, on May 31, 1939. Louie is the son of Giovanni Russo, from Cleto, Italy, and Genoveffa (Pucci) Russo, from Cosenza, Italy.

The Russo family landed in New York and by railway,  made their way to Golden, BC. Giovanni was already in Golden and awaited his wife and two daughters. Louie had three sisters: Ida Vecchio, Erza (Elsie) Rampone and Cynthia Kenney.

At the age of 7, Louie’s family home (in Golden, BC) burnt down, consequently moving them to Fernie, BC. They stayed for a short time in Fernie, and then made their way to Winfield (Lake Country), BC, where they established the family home and orchard.

At the age of 14, Louie quit school and began working with his father. They worked in the McCullough Forest Region, cutting railway ties. They horse logged, cut logs and loaded railway ties onto box cars on the Kettle Valley railway. 

In 1948, Louie’s dad purchased 20 acres on Old Vernon Rd and began hauling logs to this property, where Giovanni and Louie cut railway ties. The railway ties were trucked and loaded onto box cars. 
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Marisa (Maria) Verna was born in Celano, Italy on November 13, 1939. Marisa is the daughter of Emilio Verna and Maria Anna DiRenzo, both from Celano, Italy. Her siblings are Giovanna (Romei), Romolo and Marcello.

In 1952, Marisa, with her mother and siblings, immigrated to Kelowna, BC. Marisa’s father, Emilio, and Uncle Giuseppe Verna had already made the passage to Kelowna. Upon arriving in Kelowna, Marisa’s family rented a house from Augusto and Marietta Caccione for several years, before purchasing a 4-acre farm on Brookside Avenue, near the Capri Mall. In 1957 the Verna family’s roots were established here and remained until the passing of Marisa’s parents in 1984.

Marisa went to Kelowna High School for a short period of time and then went on to work with her family doing various orchard duties.  One of them was picking peaches in the Casa Loma orchard region of West Kelowna. She continued working in orchards until landing employment with Gem Cleaners, located on Bernard Avenue.

Marisa met Louie in August, 1958, at the Kelowna Regatta and began dating. They married on December 28, 1959 and moved to Winfield, BC. Louie and Marisa purchased the 20-acre property from Louie’s dad in 1960. At this time, Louie began to build a small portable sawmill to cut railway ties. This was the site where Russo Sawmills was established by Louie and Marisa Russo. Following this, they purchased two orchards, one in Glenmore and the other in Ellison.

Louie and Marisa have five children: John (Kathyrn), Tony (Kathleen), Geneen (Thomas), Gloria (Norman) and Robert (Lyn).

Louie passed away on March 24, 2008, and rests in the Kelowna cemetery. Marisa lives in Ellison.

Contributed by Robert Russo, son.

Michele Rossi was born on November 9, 1917, in Terranova, Benevento, Campania, Italy. Beatrice Covino was born February 2, 1921, in Arpaise, Benevento, Campania, Italy.

Growing up in Italy, they both worked hard on their family land growing grapes and olives,  and raising animals.

In 1938, Michele was a twenty year-old sergeant in the Italian army. In 1941, he was among the four thousand Italian troops sent to occupy Albania. On September 17, 1943, the Nazis came to Albania and when the Italian troops refused to co-operate with them, many were shot. The rest were marched off on a trek to Germany as forced workers in a steel factory.

On March 19, 1945 when the Americans liberated the work camp survivors, Michele had dropped to a weight of ninety pounds. When he returned home, he was surprised and joyful that Beatrice had waited patiently for him for seven years.

After being engaged for twelve years, they married on March 3, 1946. Daughter, Elda, was born in 1946 and daughter, Luigina, in 1951.

In the spring of 1952, Michele emigrated to Smithers, BC, to make enough money to send for his family.  This was the situation for many immigrants. In May 1956, his family joined him. A son, Carmine, was born in 1957.

In Smithers, Michele worked as a labourer for the Canadian National Railways while Beatrice worked in the local hospital and hotel.

They moved to Kelowna, BC, in the summer of 1971. Michele continued to work for the C.N.R. and Beatrice worked at the Capri Hotel until their retirement. Like most Italian immigrants, they took advantage of Kelowna's growing season, by growing an annual garden full of tomatoes, peppers, beans and peas. 

Michele passed away December 22, 2001, being the first person to be laid to rest in Kelowna Cemetery's Mausoleum. Beatrice followed him on August 15, 2012.

Contributed by Joey Vecchio, friend.

Born in 1926 in Flaibano, Udine, Italy, Remi immigrated to Canada as a child. His father was stationed in Moyie, BC, in the Crowsnest Pass (East Kootenays). He was a Foreman on the railroad. It was there that Remi received his first accordion; his love of music and this instrument was born.

Remi went to University in Victoria, British Columbia to become a teacher. And, even though he only taught school for a short period of time, it ignited his love of teaching. Many of his music students can attest to the patience, love, and dedication he put into every lesson. 

Remi moved to Vancouver, BC, where he opened a clothing store, Picco's Men's Wear. He also, successfully invested in Real Estate. At the age of 41, this dashing entrepreneur bachelor was swept off his feet by a beautiful, vibrant preschool teacher, Melcha, and with whom he celebrated 52 years of marriage.

In 1976, on a random trip to Kelowna, BC, Remi stumbled upon a piece of property for sale that captured his heart. He bought it on the spot. He sold everything in Vancouver and gave up his business to follow his true passion, music. Remi was a competitor, and eventually a judge at the Kimberly Accordion Music Festival, where he always won in his categories. He also won the Congeniality Award every single year. This makes perfect sense if you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Remi and seeing those sparkly blue eyes, the greatest smile, and heard his corny jokes that cracked him up every time he told them. 

Remi was active in the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC), as well as other community organizations. He played his accordion at Folkfest for many years, as he accompanied Italian dancers, of all ages, and the children and men's choirs. He was part of the men's choir at Expo 86 in Vancouver. He was also part of the performance group that attended the Canadian Heritage Festival, in Halifax, in 1979. He was a smiling face at KCIC Christmas parties, on parade floats, and performed at numerous special occasions for many families.
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Remi's other passion was travel, and he truly travelled the world: Europe, Egypt, Australia, Brazil, Japan, and the United States. He loved immersing himself in different cultures and had lasting friendships from every place he visited. He passed away in 2022.

Adapted from Remi’s eulogy by his daughter, Theah Picco-Crockett.

Luigi Pagliaro (Lou/Louis) was born in 1945 in Cleto, Cosenza, Italy, to Giuseppe Pagliaro and Carmela Russo. Growing up, Luigi had three sisters: Annuzza, Ada and Bianca. During his childhood, Luigi bore significant responsibilities at home, alongside his mother, while his father worked away from home in Africa, Sicily, and eventually Canada.

In 1958, Luigi, along with his mother and youngest sister, Bianca, embarked on a passenger ship journey to Canada. They arrived in Halifax and traveled across the country by train, settling and reuniting with their father in Revelstoke, B.C. 

Following his education, Luigi began working in construction with the Trans-Canada Highway department. Later, he transitioned into auto body repair. Luigi eventually formed a partnership,  Phil & Louis Auto-body.   His dedication was particularly evident in the challenging conditions of working in the Rogers Pass. Luigi was an active member of the Knights of Columbus in Revelstoke and also contributed his services as a volunteer auxiliary with the RCMP. 

Elda Mele was a Christmas baby, born in 1949 in Serra Pedace, Cosenza, Italy, to Leonardo Mele and Marietta Oliverio. She was the youngest of five children in the family: Rafelina, Antonio (Tony), Ivanna and Olinda. In 1961, Elda traveled by passenger ship, with her mother and sisters, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there, the family traveled by train to Revelstoke B.C., to be reunited with their father and brother, Antonio.  Elda obtained her hairdressing license at the age of 18. Living in such a tight knit Italian community, the Pagliaro and Mele families became very close friends. It didn't take long before the handsome Luigi became enamoured with the beautiful Elda, and they were married in 1967. 

Luigi and Elda moved with their two young children, Joseph (Denise Kurio) and Melina (Shawn Lytton)  to Kelowna, BC in 1975. Their third child, Jennifer, was born in Kelowna. All three children were enveloped by the love and care, of not only their parents, but also their paternal grandparents and a large extended family. 

In 1978, Luigi and his cousin, Eugene Filice, acquired Kelowna Auto Body, which became a thriving business for 27 years. After a brief retirement, Luigi felt a strong calling to return to meaningful work, which led him to Anthony's Subaru, where he worked for his longtime friend, Tony Lunelli. While raising her family, Elda had a successful career as a hairstylist for over 40 years. She dedicated many of those years to Hennie's Hair Studio and also ran her own salon, Elda's Hair by Design. 

Luigi and Elda had a very busy and welcoming household to friends and family. Both Luigi and Elda found great enjoyment in gardening, playing bocce, bowling, foraging for wild mushrooms, and traveling. Luigi and Elda have been blessed with seven grandchildren: Liam, Hannah, Kai, Ava, Maia, Macy, and Makayla.  The Pagliaro family actively participated in numerous activities and events in Kelowna, often engaging with the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club community. From cultural gatherings to recreational outings, they cherished the moments spent together, fostering strong bonds and lasting memories.

Luigi passed away in October 2023, after a battle with pancreatic cancer and is interred at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Contributed by Melina Pagliaro Lytton, daughter.

Romeo was born in Renazzo, and Ada in Cento, both part of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The towns are only 22 kilometres apart and Ada first met Romeo in 1947, while he was working in Cento. In 1951, they married and emigrated to Argentina. In 1958, they welcomed their daughter, Gloria. They returned to Italy in 1962. They found Italy offered limited economic opportunities, so they emigrated to Canada, in 1967, settling in Kelowna, BC, close to Ada’s sister, Luisa Manderioli.

Life in Canada proved challenging for the Orlandis. Romeo had a PhD in Economics from the University of Bologna, Italy, and had extensive experience working as an accountant. But, he was 45 and could not speak English. Romeo tried his hand at orchard work before he made the difficult decision to live alone in Vancouver, for six months, to enrol in formal English classes. He was subsequently hired as comptroller for Sun Rype, working there until his retirement in 1986.

While Romeo was in Vancouver, Ada first found work as a teacher on call with District 23, teaching Spanish and French. After a couple years, she landed full time work as Immaculata High School’s charismatic French teacher. Ada was a gifted linguist. She was fully fluent in Spanish, French, Italian and English. She also spoke Greek, which she learned during her childhood, spent on Rhodes Island, Greece. Ada empathized with young people and was a gifted storyteller. Her students remembered her, lovingly. They were mesmerized by her stories and experiences from other countries. 

Romeo was the perfect social companion. He was a great dancer and fantastic card player, excelling at poker, Canasta and Rummy. He was also an expert at the Argentinian dice game, Generala. Romeo loved philosophical debates and witty stories. He spent much of his time in his garden where he grew “world famous” red green lettuce and sweet strawberries. During breaks from yard work, he watched soccer, boxing, tennis and F1 racing, on TV.

Ada was multi-talented. She had worked as a professional actor when she was a young lady in Italy. She had an uncanny ability to mimic accents. Her great comedic timing made her the hit of any social gathering she attended. Of note, was when she dressed up as “the Befana,” for several families living in an apartment building in Italy. While in Canada, every year she would direct her students, at Immaculata Secondary School, in a one act play, performed totally in French - something unheard of for a high school language class. Ada retired from teaching in 1989.

Ada was also an excellent cook. Romeo and Ada loved to entertain and Ada took it upon herself to master scores of recipes. Her pasta dishes, turkey roast and pork loin medallions were world class, but so were her many desserts: English Trifle, chocolate mousse, bread pudding and brioche.  

Romeo and Ada were generous supporters of the Canadian Italian Club. Ada taught Italian to both children and adults for several decades. She was available whenever a formal Italian translation was required. 

Daughter, Gloria Orlandi, married her high school sweetheart, Geoff Lillos, in 1981. The couple lives in Vancouver, BC. They have a daughter, Sarah (an award-winning interior designer), and son, Stefan (a gifted salesman). Gloria worked in the fashion retail industry in Vancouver for several decades. Gloria and Geoff Lillos recently welcomed their first grandchild.

Romeo died, suddenly, in 1986. Ada passed away in 2016. Romeo and Ada are interred in the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.

Contributed by Gloria Lillos, daughter.

Max was born November 19, 1938, in Summerland, British Columbia to Carmelo and Mary Ongaro (nee Betuzzi). They and their families were Italian immigrants, happy to be making new lives in Canada. Max has a younger sister, Jo-Ann.

After his schooling in Summerland, Max worked on the construction of the Okanagan Lake Provincial Park Campgrounds, before moving to Toronto, Ontario, to continue his post-secondary education. He was educated in electronics engineering and business administration. He worked at Collins Radio and eventually IBM. 

Joan was born, along with her twin Jean, on January 31, 1943 in Mattawa, Ontario to Sidney & Colette Turcotte. They were the eldest of 11 children. Joan grew up mostly in Mattawa, Ontario, then left for Toronto.

It was in Toronto that Max met Joanie. They were married in 1963 in Mattawa, Ontario, Joan’s hometown and enjoyed a loving 51-year zany and zesty life-long companionship. In 1968, Max and Joan moved to Rutland, BC, where they could be closer to Max’s family. Max began an over 20-year career with Western Star Trucks. Max and Joan raised their three children: Denise (Monty) Scott, Dana (Doug) Howe and Dean (Christine) Ongaro.

In 1997, Max and Joan started a new life in Fort St. John, B.C. They made many good friends and adopted 3 grandchildren. In 2003, Max retired from Peacock Inc. so he and Joan could return to Kelowna, back with their family again. Later, Max came out of retirement, a couple times but, in October 2018, just before his 80th birthday, Max retired for the last time after coordinating the parking at the Landmark Buildings for several years.

Being extroverts, Max and Joan also loved hosting and attending large parties and having guests in their home. Max loved gardening, doing projects with his friends, skiing, fishing, hunting and kayaking. Max was known for his genuine accepting smile and kindness. He was supportive, encouraging and could see past people’s hostility, remaining calm and patient in all kinds of situations.

Joan will be remembered for her love of her family and country, her sense of style, vivacious and adventurous spirit, creativity, sense of humour, contagious laugh and her ability to love generously. Max passed away on May 7, 2020 and Joan on April 20, 2015.

Adapted from Springfield Funeral Home Obituaries.