Alfredo Bonaldi and Luisa Turri

Alfredo Bonaldi  was born in Torrite, Toscana, Italy on March 5, 1921.  He was the son of Giovanni F.L. Bonaldi (1884-1933) and Editta Grassi (1888-1948). Alfredo’s wife, Maria  Luisa Turri, was born in Pieve, Fosciana, Tuscany in 1928. Her parents were Aurelio Turri (1895-1973) and Gemma Guidi (1901-1983). Both families were farmers.

In 1940, Alfredo was drafted in the Italian army. At the same time, he applied to become a policeman and was quickly accepted. He was sent to Palermo, Italy, and served for two years as a policeman.  He then returned home and worked in the local coal mines.  

Working in a coal mine was a health concern and the Bonaldi’s explored the idea about immigrating to Canada. Luisa’s sister, Yolanda Bravi, was already living in West Summerland, BC, and her Uncle, Samuele Turri, and Aunt, Clelia Martinelli, lived in Kelowna, BC.

Alfredo and Luisa had obtained sponsors in British Columbia: Francis and Iris Steuart. The Steuart family was one of Summerland’s most prominent orchardists. The Bonaldi family arrived in Canada in 1951 with their new daughter, six month old Editta. Their family expanded in 1955 with the birth of Patricia, and five years later, Liana. 

From 1951 until 1957, the Bonaldi’s operated the Steuart’s twenty acre orchard. The Bonaldi family paid back Aunt Clelia for the travel expenses from Italy, and bought their first home in Summerland.  Alfredo was hired by the Summerland Experimental Farm  (Summerland Research and Development Centre) and remained there until his retirement. Alfredo became a well-known orchardist, viticulturalist and arborist. 

Luisa was employed as a packer for the Occidental Fruit Company. She worked there until her retirement. The Bonaldi home was famous for their homemade cooking and homemade ‘vino’.  Their home featured a huge garden and photographs of some of their crops made the local Summerland Review newspaper. 
Hobbies included  bocce ball in their backyard. Fishing in Trout Creek, card playing and dancing were also favourite pastimes. The Bonaldi family easily made friends with many from Summerland. These friendships expanded with members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club.

In 2012, both Alfredo and Luisa passed away and are interred at the Canyon View Cemetery in Summerland. They left behind their treasures, adorable grandchildren: Travis Inglis, Eric Inglis, Jesse Taylor, Anthony Taylor, Pamela (Felker) Judd and Stephanie (Felker) Eden.

Edi Bonaldi Inglis, daughter