My father, Pietro Turri, was born January 29, 1904 in Pontecosi, Tuscany, Italy to Olinto and Isolina Valdrighi. He married my mother, Esterina Gragnani and lived with his parents operating a large farm of every type of fruit and livestock. They had two daughters, Renata (Vaccaro) and Emma (Rantucci). Dad always wanted to join his brother, Samuele and sister, Clelia in Kelowna, BC.
After the trials and tribulations of World War II, Dad was even more anxious to immigrate to Canada. In early 1952, we arrived in Halifax and travelled by train through the wintery prairies. We put foot on “the promising land” that Dad believed would give us the opportunity to live a better life. For the first year, he worked for the Capozzis on the Black Mountain vineyard, while in the summer, the rest of the family worked at Casa Loma Orchards, picking peaches. The following year, Pietro was offered a job in Summerland by an Italian orchardist, so the family followed him there and also worked in the orchard. He was an accomplished orchardist and “jack of all trades” and could repair almost anything. Esterina worked as a seamstress for Henderson’s Cleaners. Later, dad joined the City of Kelowna work force. In the early 1960’s, he built a house on Bay Avenue. His home was his castle. Many immigrants from around Pontecosi and friends of Pietro’s family, chose Kelowna as their destination. Pietro organized bocce, card games, picnics, hunting and fishing in Mission Creek. In 1965, he helped form The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. Esterina passed away in 1995. Pietro left us in 2004 at age 100. We believe Dad really fulfilled his dreams, immigrating to Canada, and making it possible for him and his family to live a safe, happy and successful life. Amen. Emma Turri Rantucci
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Guerino (Gary) Russo was born on April 14, 1932 in Cleto, Cosenza, Calabria. He was the youngest of a large family. He was raised by his mother, and older siblings, as his father died when Gary was only two years old. His early years were spent on the family’s farm.
In 1952, Gary came to Canada to find a better life than the land in Porcaria area could provide. The early years in Canada were spent working in the forest and on the railway with his Uncle John and brother, Geno. After several years of hard work, Gary was financially secure and ready for the next phase of his life. He followed the Italian tradition and wrote to Antonio Fata, asking for permission to marry Antonio’s daughter, Ida. To Gary’s great pleasure, Ida told her father to say yes. They were married by proxy on December 9, 1954. Ida arrived in Canada in 1955 and their children, Orlando, Lorni and Linda, were born soon after. Gary and Ida first lived in Winfield, before moving to the Five Bridges area of Kelowna, BC. From there, they moved to a house near Gyro park before building a house on their Benvoulin Road farm. There was never a man who was prouder of his crops or the size of his vegetables. On many an occasion Gary would have his children make signs proclaiming the glory of his produce. Farming wasn’t an art to Gary, it was a science. His rows were the straightest. Planting and tending the crops followed strict rules, followed by all, except for Ida who scattered seeds here and there and managed to grow things just as well. Soon grandchildren were part of the family. Now came the time for the couple to really enjoy their lives. The grandchildren were the one’s that really got to see the kind and soft side of Gary. The farm was turned over to the children and Gary became a hobby farmer. The fishing and hunting, that had been necessary to feed the family, became a pleasant diversion. Gary and Ida had time to grow grapes and to make wine. They grew figs and planted fruit and nut trees in every corner of the property. Once, when asked why they continued to plant so many trees Gary replied “so our grandchildren will always have something to eat”. Gary passed away on January 28, 2015 at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife, Ida, three children, ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Wendy Tache Russo The Verna family adventure started in 1951, when Emilio Verna left Celano, L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy, in search of a better life for his family. Emilio’s wife, Marianna, and children, Giovanna, Marisa, Romolo and Marcello followed in 1953. The family disembarked, like many immigrants from Europe, through the renowned Pier 21 in Halifax. They travelled by train across Canada. With great joy, and relief, Emilio, along with Aunt Orsolina and Uncle Giuseppe, met Marianna and the kids in Kelowna, BC.
In Italy, Emilio had a business of transporting goods from one town to another with his horses and cart. Marianna, looked after the four children and the family farm. She would hire transient workers to bring in the grain harvest and at the same time she would make big lunches for both family and workers. In Kelowna, Emilio worked on the Constantini farm, located on Rutland Road. His terms and conditions of immigration required him to maintain employment and self reliance. After the family reunited, they lived in a number of houses, including one owned by family friends Agostino & Marietta Cacchioni. After several years they acquired a small acreage on Brookside Avenue, near Capri mall. The family grew pretty much all the fruits and vegetables with a big garden and chickens. Emilio worked in the mining and construction industries. Road construction projects included the Hope-Princeton, Rogers Pass and Mara Lake (around Revelstoke). He cherished his home, farm, friends, family and homemade wine. Giovanna, the eldest child, went to Calgary to work, returning to Kelowna, where she met her future husband, Lorenzo Romei. They were blessed with five children Michele, Mario, Assunta, Lorenzo and Rita. The Romei's purchased Winfield Garage in 1961 and four years later purchased an orchard where they raised their family in Winfield (Now Lake Country) In 1978 they replaced the garage with Il Cavaliere Pub. Marisa went to Kelowna Secondary School and eventually met Luigi Russo. They had five children: John, Tony, Geneen, Gloria and Robert. Luigi and Marisa became orchardists in Rutland, Glenmore and Lake country. They also operated a small lumber mill in Rutland for over forty years. Romolo (Rome) also attended Kelowna Secondary and then went to Calgary to further his education. He met and married Cathy Rebaudengo and had two children: Giuliana and Anthony. Romolo spent most of his career in sales and Marketing, with Xerox, Investors Group, GE and Bombardier. Marcello went to school at Dr Knox, and became a star hockey player, and fan favourite, with the Kelowna Buckaroo hockey team. He met and married Linda Smith. They have four children: Lia, Emilio, Tana, and Carlo. Marcello and Linda made their living in farming as well. The family purchased orchards in Glenmore and East Kelowna (currently known as the Harvest Golf Club). Rome Verna and Marisa Verna Russo Giovanni Petretta was born on February 4, 1921 in Santo Stefano Del Sol, Avellino, Campania. Gina Prioreschi was born March 19, 1920 in Bardalone, San Marcello, Pistoia, Toscana. They met while Giovanni was stationed in the Bardalone area, as a military policeman. They wed in 1946 and lived in S Stefano, Giovanni’s family home. But life after the war was hard, in a depressed economy with little opportunity. When there was a chance to go to Canada, they took it.
Giovanni arrived in Kelowna, BC, via Halifax in February, 1950. Like many post-war immigrants, Giovanni was sponsored by a relative, his uncle, Pasquale (Cap) Capozzi. He lived at the Capozzi home while working at Capozzi’s Grocery Store. Although Gina was to immigrate the following year, the Capozzi’s need for household help expedited her departure. Gina and son, Giuseppe (Joe), age three, departed from Italy in November 1950. Upon arrival in Kelowna, the family settled at the Capozzi’s, before moving to a small home on Water Street, where Rita was born in 1952. They later moved into a suite at the Cacchioni house on Bernard Avenue. During these few years, Giovanni was employed at Sun-Rype and then Calona Wines while Gina worked at the cannery and cleaned homes. To earn extra money, they also worked on their days off at various farms, mostly harvesting fruit. In 1953, an abandoned vineyard and house in the Bankhead area became available. They were encouraged by August Cacchioni and Cap Capozzi to buy the property. Giovanni remained employed at the winery for a few years, but both worked the vineyard and a few acres of “Italian” vegetables that they sold throughout BC and Alberta. They also took in Italian lodgers, including Giovanni’s brother, Domenico, who arrived in 1954. In 1958 their third child, Maria Pia made her appearance. In the coming years, they expanded their holdings with a small apple orchard in Glenmore, and later, another vineyard and orchard in the Ellison area. Giovanni, a proud farmer, along with his biggest asset, Gina, and their son, Joe, laboured in the fields sometimes late into the evening. After supper Gina would make bread and do canning late into the night. Joe started helping on the farm when he was just seven and is now still lives on the farm. Unexpectedly, Giovanni died in 1982, leaving Gina and Joe to oversee the farm properties. Giovanni had overseen most of the farms’ managerial responsibilities. Running the farm fell on Joe’s shoulders with his young family’s support and Gina’s immeasurable knowledge and assistance. Gina continued to work very hard helping on the farms with whatever needed to be done. She lived, independently, on the original farm, until 1996. In 2018, she passed away peacefully at the age of 98. Gina and Giovanni are interred at the Kelowna Memorial Cemetery. Giovanni was a charter member of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. NOTE: Giovanni’s father, Giuseppe, came to North America twice in the early 1900’s. He worked in coal mines in Pennsylvania and in the mining industry in the West Kootenay Area. Rita Conroy Pasquale Iafrancesco, son of Giovanni and Cristina Iafrancesco, landowners, was born on May 11, 1913 in Sepino, Campobasso, Italy. Pasquale’s father, Giovanni, came to Canada sometime in 1914 and worked mostly in Alaska before returning back home in 1928. Vittoria Ficocelli, daughter of Giovanni and Vitangela Ficocelli, was born on April 14, 1909 in Sepino as well. Her father, Giovanni Ficocelli, born September 17, 1884, came to Canada in 1911 and worked in Fort Steele, BC as a section foreman for Canadian Pacific Railway for approximately 18 years. Pasquale and Vittoria were married on January 4, 1937. They had three children, twins Vitangela and Giovanni (born November 29, 1937) and Giuseppe (Joe) (born March 19, 1947).
Pasquale spent many years in the army, fighting during the war (starting with military in 1933 and then in later years being called to combat action until 1945). His family has two different medals “La Croce de Merito de Guerra” that were given to him in recognition of his service. Sponsored by Vittoria’s cousin, Vincenzo Ficocelli, Pasquale immigrated to Canada by boat in 1949 and went to work as a section maintenance man for Canadian Pacific Railways from 1949 until 1976. He started working in Field, BC, and then to Emerald, Golden, Rogers, Stoney, Glacier, Albert Canyon, Twin Butte, Revelstoke, Sicamous, and finally to Kelowna, B.C. His son, Giovanni, immigrated in 1953 and his daughter, Vitangela, arrived in 1957. Pasquale’s wife, Vittoria, and youngest son, Giuseppe, arrived at Montreal in 1963 and continued on to Calgary, AB, to join the family. In 1964, Pasquale was transferred by CP Rail to Kelowna, B.C. He remained with CPR until his retirement in 1976. Tragically, Giovanni passed away at the age of 24 years. Daughter, Vitangela, married Gabrielle Cusanelli and remained in Calgary. Pasquale enjoyed family and friends, gardening, making homemade wine and sausages/prosciutto and was an original member of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. Vittoria worked in seasonal agricultural farming. Son, Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco, worked for CP Rail as a conductor/brakeman from 1967 until his retirement in 1997. He married Maria Bianca Russo in 1976. Giuseppe, was involved in numerous organizations throughout his entire life. They included the Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Lions, Kelowna Chamber, National Congress of Canadian Italians and the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, where he was president for many years. Joe was recognized for his volunteer work at the local, provincial and federal levels, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, Kelowna’s Fred Macklin Award and Central OK Crimestoppers Award. Sadly, Vittoria Iafrancesco passed away on June 5, 1990, Pasquale Iafrancesco passed away on June 10, 1994, Son, Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco passed away on November 2, 2018. All three are entombed at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Kelowna, BC. M. Bianca Russo Iafrancesco In 1949, Mario Dapavo emigrated to Kelowna, BC, from Frinco, Asti, Piedmont, Italy. He was born on August 27th, 1920, the second youngest in a family of six siblings of Giovanni and Marcellina Dapavo. Sponsored by his cousin, Dino Dapavo, he worked as a farm hand until getting into the logging industry and finally working for the City of Kelowna in 1963. He retired as a foreman in 1985.
The six-foot-one Mario, met, and later married the diminutive five-foot-one Sabina Luperelli on Jan 11th, 1958. Sabina (born Nov 24th, 1921) came to Kelowna from Santo Stefano del Sole, Italy (Naples area) in early 1956. She followed her sister, Maria Petretta. Initially she worked as housekeeper, for the Capozzi family, then working dual jobs at the fruit packing house and Stewart Brothers nursery. She worked for many years at Royal Bakery on Bernard Avenue and finally, a ten year career at the Capri Hotel. Mario was a hunter and avid fisherman, greatly enjoying the great Okanagan outdoors. Sabina and Mario enjoyed their large garden with the fruits of their labour, a great variety of vegetables and fruit trees. Sabina was also a great cook. She hosted other Italian families and interchanged great dinners with the Petretta and Zaino families on special holiday occasions. Mario and Sabina had twins, Louie and John on Sept 27th, 1958. Unfortunately, John past away 3 days later. After eleven years into their retirement, they made the decision in 1997, to move to North Vancouver to be closer to Louie, his wife Laurie and grandchildren: Kelsey, Stephanie and Julia. Mario passed away in October of 1999 and the ever youthful Sabina lived another twenty plus years. The great matriarch of the Dapavo family passed away in March 2020, a year and a bit before her 100th birthday. Louie Dapavo Lorenzo Siviglia was born on April 5,1885, to parents, Antonio Carmelo Siviglia and Lucia Stellitano in Ghorio di Roghudi, Reggio Calabria, Italy. Soon after the family moved to Pietrapennata, a small town near Palizzi, Reggio Calabria, Italy. Lorenzo was met by his cousin, Antonio, when he immigrated in 1908. From New York, Lorenzo made his way to Saskatchewan. In 1915, at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, he enlisted in the Canadian Over Seas Expeditionary Force. After his service, he was granted a quarter section of farmland near Saskatoon. Lorenzo’s brother, Francesco, who was also living in Saskatchewan, was a member of the 97th Regiment Infantry. He was killed in action in 1916. Another brother, Annunziato, and a sister, Yolanda, remained in Italy.
Lorenzo returned to Italy in 1919 and married Giuseppa Priolo. Giuseppa was born July 11, 1892, to parents Luigi Priolo and Caterina Lombardo. In 1920, Lorenzo returned to Canada, landing in Montreal. Giuseppa remained in Pietrapennata, Italy, making her way, via the port of Quebec, to Saskatoon in 1921. In 1929 the Siviglias made their way to Kimberley, BC, to work at Cominco Mines. In 1930, while in Kimberley, they adopted Giuseppa’s niece, Caterina Priolo. Caterina was born in Palizzi, Italy, in 1920. Lorenzo and Giuseppa remained in Kimberley until 1944. Upon retirement, Lorenzo and Giuseppa made their way to Kelowna, BC, and Caterina moved to Calgary, Alberta, to attend business school. In 1946, Lorenzo applied for a Kelowna bread dealers’ licence. They lived a simple life… no car and no phone… but they grew a huge garden with fruit trees and they raised chickens for fresh eggs. Caterina remained in Calgary and married Guerino (Peter) Serani. They had two boys: Nello (Rosa) in Calgary and Rick (Danielle) in Kelowna. The Serani family paid many visits to the Siviglias during their summer vacation… it was the popular thing to do at the time. Lorenzo passed away January 1, 1968 and Giuseppa May 23, 1977. They are buried in the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. Nello Serani and Don Rampone Geniale (Geno) Russo was born on September 25, 1915 in Cleto, Cosenza, Calabria. He was the second eldest of eight children. When his father died at an early age, he was forced to quit school, and began to work in the olive fields. Pictures show that Geno was an attractive, young man and this did not escape the eye of Maria Filice, a beautiful 16 yr old from Aiello, a neighbouring village. Geno and Maria soon fell in love and were married. They started a family of their own, with the arrival of Antonia. The late 1930’s were a difficult time in Italy so Geniale was forced to leave his young family and go off to war. Upon capture by the opposition, he was sent to a farm in Scotland, where he was a prisoner of war for six years, spending long hours working the fields. He spoke highly of the family in Scotland with which he lived. They allowed him to send letters to Italy, and on the first communication with his wife, he was delighted to find out she in fact had been pregnant when he left in 1939, and a new daughter, Concetta, was waiting at home to meet her father. At this farm in Scotland, Geniale began to cultivate his love for farming. He also proved to be innovative in making tools and cigarette cases as well. In his spare time, he developed his natural talent for carving. When the war finally ended, he returned to Italy, and soon the family grew to four, with the additions of John and Isa. Life in Italy continued to be difficult, and the decision to uproot the family and move to Canada was made in 1948. Maria and the children would join him in 1951, after a memorable one week ride across the Atlantic. After stops in Golden and Winfield, the Russo family found a piece of land in Oyama, where Geniale cleared the land and planted an orchard that would be the family homestead until 1969. The Geniale Russo family had now blossomed to a total of nine, with Gina, Clara, Lina, Eugene, and Mario being added to the roster. During the 1960’s, while the orchard was reaching maturity, Geno worked in the bush, as a faller, and lived in the logging camps, leaving John and the girls to run the orchard. After a number of years he purchased a twenty acre orchard, which he ran until 1979. The family moved to Spiers Road, Kelowna, where they spent many hours building furniture, making wine, and growing fruits and vegetables. A wood carving that Geniale made says it all about his life. “Il panne che mangiano I nostri denti sono sudori della nostra fronte.” (The bread that you eat is attained by the sweat off your brow.) Maria passed away in 1991 and Geniale in 2001. Cathy Risso Cundy
Ivo Arduini (1883-1959) and Regina Bui (1884-1960) were both born and raised in Candelara, Marche, Italy and married on Nov. 11, 1905. They immigrated to Canada and resided in Kamloops, BC. Ivo and Regina had five children: Joseph, 1906, Peter who died as a toddler, Mary, 1912, Victor, 1915 and Elena (Nellie), 1916. Ivo was a shoemaker, who opened Arduini's Shoe Store in 1906. It operated for 100 years. When Ivo retired, his son, Victor, then grandson, Greg took over the running of the store. James Ivens Campbell (1885-1927) was born in Barford, Warwickshire, England and Eva Watson (1892-1976) was born in Woolwich, Kent, England. Both had immigrated separately, to Kelowna, BC, and met in the Kelowna City Park. James had the contract to run the Kelowna-Westbank Ferry Service from 1911-1916. He had the ferry, the Aricia, built in the Kelowna Sawmill Yard, by the Jones brothers, in 1912. Eva was governess to the Grote Stirling family and immigrated with them in 1912. James and Eva were married in 1916 and bought a ten acre property on Benvoulin Road. James established a garage business, called The Benvoulin Garage. They had three children: James (Jim), 1917, Leonard, 1919, and Gwen, 1926. James died at the age of forty-two. Eva moved off the acreage and into Kelowna to raise her three children and work for the Simpson family. Mary Arduini married Les V. Campbell (no relation to Jim). Les was manager at the Paramount Theatre in Kelowna, until they moved to Trail, BC, to manage the Famous Players Theatre. They eventually moved to Castlegar, BC, opened their own Theatre and started the Castlegar News. Nellie Arduini and Jim Campbell met in Kelowna in 1937, when Nellie came to visit her sister, Mary, to help her with her newborn son. They married in Kamloops in 1940, but immediately made their home in Kelowna. Jim was an electrician and partner in Acme Radio Ltd. He eventually opened his own business, Campbell’s Radio & Appliance Repairs. After Jim sold the business, he worked for Okanagan Packers as the refrigeration operator. They had four children: Melvyn (Anne Setter), 1944, Victor (Anna Rozniak), 1947, Elena (Keith Garrison), 1951 and Philip (Brenda Wagner), 1953. Nellie belonged to the Catholic Women’s League (was President twice), and the Sewing Circle. She did volunteer work with shut-ins and helped with translating letters for them. Jim and Nellie belonged to the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club and loved their dinners, dances and picnics. Their door was always open to family, friends and newcomers to Kelowna. The priests would always invite themselves to Nellie’s Sunday night Spaghetti dinners! Nellie had a love for life and she was always in skits, dressing up for Halloween and going trick or treating, which sometimes got her into trouble, but, she was the life of the party! It has been said, that when you think of Nellie, a smile comes to your face. Elena Campbell Garrison
Alfredo Giuseppe (Pep) Guidi was born on November 21, 1892 in the village of Filicaia, Camporgiano, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy to parents Fedele Guidi and Maria Pretendi. He served with Italy during World War I. On April 17, 1920, he married Angelina Suffredini. On May 28, 1927 he left Cherbourg, France and arrived in Quebec June 4. His destination was Kelowna, BC, where he would be farming with Giovachino Lanfranco.
Angelina, born in 1893, made her venture to America leaving Genoa, Italy November 15, 1929 and arriving in New York November 26. She was one of nine members, all travelling to Kelowna, from Camporgiano, Lucca. Angelina was accompanied by her daughters: Adriana and Maria. Also with her were Umile Coli Guidi (Ferruccio Pietro Guidi) and her children: Enrico, Renato, Lorenzo and Isabella. Completing the group were Luigia Lenzi Favali and sons: Francis and Michelino. After spending several years in Kelowna he moved to Summerland, BC, where he was employed by the fruit industry. In 1934, Alfredo and Angelina moved to a dwelling on Giant’s Head Road where Pep worked for W R Boyd. He assisted with the construction of several Summerland landmarks. Alfredo also served as a member of the Summerland Canadian Legion for a number of year. He enjoyed classical music and spent many hours listening and appreciating operas. Alfredo and Angelina raised two children: Audrey (Vince Genovese) and Mary (Bob Richards). Both Alfredo and Angelina are laid to rest at the Canyon View Cemetery, Summerland. Don Rampone |