Angelo Ansano Guidi and Maria Rosa Letizia Pellini

Back left: Letizia, Rodolfo, Clara Front left: Lucia, Angelo

Angelo Guidi was born in Pontecosi, Tuscany, Italy, on August 20, 1881.  Letizia Maria Pellini was born in Borsigliana, Lucca,  Italy on August 4, 1883. They were married in Pontecosi in 1907. Both died in Kelowna, BC. Angelo died on October 30, 1953, at the age of 72. Letizia died on August 13,1964, at the age of 81.

Angelo, along with brother Amos, cousin Pietro Guidi, friend Samuele Turri, Cesare Bertucci and Carlo Cavanni, left Italy on February 3, 1912. They formed a group called the “Six Immigrants”. On February 17, 1912, they travelled by paddle wheeler, the Okanagan, down the Okanagan Lake to Kelowna, where they were met by friends and relatives, with whom they stayed until they were able to buy their own land and build their own homes. They did any kind of work that was available. They worked hard to save and eventually started to build their homes. They formed work bees to help each other build the homes.

They eventually learned enough English to be able to communicate and get better jobs. Angelo did landscape gardening, masonry, plastering, and building. He also worked many years in the packing house. Angelo built his house at 1123 St. Paul Street in Kelowna.

Like many others who came to Canada, Angelo left his family in Italy.  He wanted to see what the new country could offer them. So Letizia, daughter, Clara, and son, Rodolph, remained in Italy.  In early 1914, Angelo sent for Letizia. The children remained with their grandparents until she saw what things were like.  A daughter, Lucia, was born in 1917. In the meantime war broke out and so the older children did not arrive in Canada until 1919. 

Clara married her cousin, Ralph Guidi, in 1953. They had no children. They resided in Kelowna. Ralph worked for the city as an electrician and Clara worked for many years at the Willow Inn Hotel. Ralph died in May, 1971, and Clara died in March, 1974.

Rudolph attended Normal School in Victoria, BC, and entered the teaching profession. He was hired by the Oliver School Board in 1931.  He married Mae Margaret Smithers in 1933. Two sons were born: Gordon Rudolph, 1934 and Peter Douglas, 1938.

Lucia attended Normal School and taught in Bridesville, BC and later in Oliver, BC.  Lucia met George Schorn, while employed at the Rock Mountain school near Bridesville. They were married in 1944, at Immaculate Conception Church in Kelowna. They had two children, Michael George, 1945 and Letitia Ann, 1947.
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Tish Schorn Ecker