Antonio and Clelia Martinelli

Clelia and Antonio Martinelli

Angelo (Nemi) Martinelli immigrated from Tuscany, Italy in 1925.  Born in Lucca Tuscany in 1896, he was the son of Paolo Martinelli and Assunta Giannotti.  He married Clelia Turri, from Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.  Clelia was the daughter of Olinto Turri and Isolina Valdrighi.  Clelia’s 1925 manifest record shows she was 31 when she made the journey from her town of Pontecosi, Italy to Bordeaux France, landing at Halifax on Feb 2, 1925.  Her destination is listed as friend, Cesare Bertucci, Kelowna, BC travelling by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Angelo and Clelia had no children but they did have a lot of Turri family with them in Kelowna including brothers Samuele and Pietro Turri and sister Rosa Lunatici.  Clelia also had siblings Aurelio, Esterina, Amerisa, Annina and Caterina in Italy.  Angelo was a plasterer working for Josi Rossi and later Emilio Guidi.  Clelia worked for Canadian Canners (earlier Rowcliffe Canning).  In the 50s they sponsored Angelo’s nephew Luigi Guidi (Lou Guidi Construction) and Pietro and Rosa Turri and families to join them in Kelowna.   Angelo passed away in 1970 at age 74.  Clelia passed away in 1986 at the age of 92.  They are laid to rest in the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.