At the call of her aunt Maria Butt, Elsa and Arrigo Cimbaro immigrated to Canada in May, 1951, via Halifax. Elsa (neé Schneider) was born in Tarcento, Udine, Italy in 1926 and Arrigo was born in 1927, in Ciseriis, Udine, Italy.
Upon their arrival in Kelowna, BC Arrigo found employment as a delivery truck driver for Haddad Beverage Ltd., as well, as a seasonal worker on the Rampone farm. Elsa worked for the Rowcliffe Canning Company and the Laurel Fruit Packers Co-operative. Inititally, they rented a home on Bertram Street and then built a home on Oxford Avenue. Arrigo and Elsa have two children - Laura and John. When the beverage company was sold in the early 1970s, Arrigo became employed at Calona Winery and worked there until 1994, when he retired from his position as production manager. Shortly after, Arrigo and Elsa built their dream retirement home on Royal Pine Drive - a home designed by their son. Arrigo was one of the founders of the Kelowna Italian Club and was also a member of the Alpini Club. Elsa was a serving member of the Catholic Women's League at St. Pius X Church. Arrigo and Elsa were a very sociable couple. They loved to dance. Elsa had a diploma in tailoring, dressmaking and design from Italy, and she was known for the beautiful clothes she made for her family. Arrigo loved to cook and to feed his family and friends. He was also a good vintner. One of his signature wines was the white “Pearla di Csaba.” Like many Italian immigrants who came to Canada, the Cimbaro elders arrived here in the hopes of a better life for themselves and their families. The Cimbaro children would like to acknowledge the sacrifices their parents made, in coming to Kelowna (leaving family, culture, a way of life) and in turn, the achievements they made (built homes, raised their families, saw their children educated and advance in careers in medicine, education, civil and mechanical engineering, and computer science, and contributed to the growth of their church and community). This was done in spite of arriving here with limited language, financial resources and education. Arrigo and Elsa leave a great legacy built by hard work, ingenuity, perseverance and a love for God and family. Arrigo died in 2018. He is laid to rest at the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. Mary Anna Cimbaro, niece
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Alessio (Alex) was born on June 19, 1903 in San Pattio, Abruzzo, Italy to parents Vincenzo Ciancone, a forrester, and Giuditta, a caterer. He was brother to Ulderico (Filomena Verna), Concetta (Ambrogio Ciaccia) and Ida (Carmine Rantucci) of Kelowna, BC, and Gilda (Pietro Grazia) and Iolanda (Tommaso Pantoli) of Italy.
Laura was born on August 27, 1905 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy to parents Luigi Guidi, a plasterer, and Ersilia Rossi, worker at the Canadian Cannery. Laura had two brothers, Emilio (Dolinda Fussari) and Basilio, who died in Kelowna at age 13. Alex and Laura were married at the Immaculate Conception Church in Kelowna on December 12, 1926. They had three children: Gloria (Victor Ghini), Vilma (Mike Vujich) and Mario (Berbie Reiswig). Alex and Laura both followed family members who were already residing in Kelowna. They both landed at Ellis Island before boarding trains to cross Canada. Alex arrived in 1921 and Laura in 1922. Alex worked at railway and sawmill jobs before landing a position at Calona Wines, where he worked as a supervisor until his retirement. Laura worked at the Canadian Cannery. Alex operated a small farm in the north end of Kelowna, growing fruit and vegetables. He loved going to baseball, lacrosse and hockey games. Laura was a great cook, loved her garden and yard, and knitted. She had many dinners for out of town guests. Alex passed away October 11, 1984 and Laura passed away February 9, 1997. They are both interred at Kelowna Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Don Rampone, KCIC Heritage Committee Lorenzo was born on November 14, 1928 in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana in the province of Lucca, Tuscany. Liliana (Lillian) Maria Coli was born on Aug 2, 1934 also in Castelnuovo. Lorenzo followed his brother, Pietro, to Kelowna, BC, in 1958. He worked for Pietro before securing a job with the City of Kelowna as a sidewalk concrete finisher. Liliana arrived in Kelowna a year later. Soon after they were married. Liliana worked for Casabella Winery and some of the local packing houses.
Lorenzo was one of the twenty-one charter members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. The family recalls that they spent a great deal of time with family and fellow club members at the hall. Lorenzo enjoyed fishing, wine making, gardening, visiting friends and baking bread. Liliana was a super-shopper, enjoyed picnics, gardening and crocheting. Both Lorenzo and Liliana enjoyed their garden harvests, spending a great deal of time canning and preserving their harvests. Liliana and Lorenzo raised three children in the Martin School area of Kelowna. Lorena was born in 1964. She was a manager at Canadian Tire. Paolo was born in 1965. Sadly, he passed away at the age of twenty-seven. Walter was born in 1969. He works at Growers Supply in Kelowna. Lorenzo and Liliana were blessed with two grand children, Christopher and Jennifer Lorenzo passed away on October 18, 1995 and Liliana on August 2, 2007. They are both laid to rest in Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. Don Rampone, KCIC Heritage Committee 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 Giovanni (Johnny) Biagioni was born on June 22, 1933 in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. He was brother to Giuliano, Anna, Andrea, Giuliana, Fernando, Carlo and Pietro. Their parents were farm workers, Michele Biagioni and Gemma Giannasi. Giulia Tagliasacchi was born on June 18, 1935 in Antisciana, Lucca, Tuscany, to Tomasso and Nella Tagliasacchi. She had one sister, Anna, and brothers, Adelmo and Angelo.
Giulia and Giovanni met and were engaged in Italy. In the early 1950s, Giovanni followed his sister Anna, to Canada, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax. He travelled by train to Summerland BC. They were married in Summerland and had two children: Donatella (Fabio) and Michele (Alessandra). Upon his arrival, Giovanni worked in several orchards, at the local mill and then the city of Summerland. Giovanni and Giulia, along with several other Summerland families, were founding members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. In 1971, the family moved back to Italy to be nearer Giulia’s mother. Fishing, hunting, gardening and wine making were important activities for Giovanni and Giulia. Giovanni still resides in Italy with his daughter Donatella and son Michele. Giulia has recently passed away. Don Rampone, KCIC Heritage Committee Vincenzo Bertucci was born in Pontecosi, Italy, in the region of Tuscany. His father, Cesare Bertucci, was born in Argentina, but moved to Italy at a young age. Cesare met the love-of his life, Anna Cavani, who lived in a nearby village. Cesare and Anna Bertucci lived in a small, rustic, old two bedroom apartment, in Pontecosi and raised four mischievous sons: Alfonso, Angelo, Antonio and Vincenzo.
Vince followed his brother and his brother's young family to Canada, fleeing from World War II, that was ravaging Italy. He met his beautiful Ukrainian wife, Valentina Bolotzky, an immigrant such as himself, at the plywood plant where they both worked on the assembly line. Vincenzo and Valentina had a very romantic courtship and got married in a fairy-tale wedding. At an appropriate time, they started having children. First born was Diana, followed by Paul Cesare, Theresa and Mark. In 1960, Vincenzo started a Plaster and Stucco business, which serviced the Okanagan area of British Columbia. He became very successful because of his proprietary exterior wall-design creations, which are still visible all over Kelowna. Vincenzo Bertucci is one of the original founders and a Past President of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. He was instrumental in building the Italian Bocce Club and supports it to this day. At the 2019, B.C., 55+ Games, Vince won the Gold Medal for Singles Bocce and Silver in Pairs Bocce. To this day, he has his long-time Italian friends over for Sunday lunches and card games. It has become another valued, Italian tradition. Diana Bertucci, daughter Antonio (Tony) Bertucci, son of Cesare Bertucci and Anna Cavani, was born in 1926 in Penticossi, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. The second eldest son, he had an older brother, Alfonso, and two younger brothers, Vincenzo and Angelo. Although described as a talented student by his teacher, he was unable to further his studies. He worked as a stone mason, along side his father, to help support the family.
In 1948, Tony married his childhood sweetheart, Alessandra (Sandra) Crocetti. She was born in 1926 to Ida Rossi and Enrico Crocetti, in the same small village in Tuscany. Their daughter, Anna, was born in Italy. In search of opportunity and a better future, Tony immigrated to Canada in 1950, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. He spent a short time in Penticton, BC, with his uncle, Carlo Cavani, who had sponsored him to come to Canada. He made his way to Kelowna, picking grapes and doing various jobs until he secured employment with Calona Wines. In 1952, Sandra, and daughter, Anna, made the long journey from Italy to reunite with Tony in Kelowna, BC. In 1955, their second daughter, Lorraine, was born. Tony secured employment with Calona Wines, until his retirement at the age of sixty-two. Sandra was a seamstress by trade. She worked for Henderson’s Dry Cleaners for many years. In the evenings, she did alterations for the Bay, in the men’s department. Tony was one of the founding members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, as well as one of the founders and presidents of the Kelowna Bocce Club. He was a remarkable bocce player, winning the gold medal at the Seniors Summer Games with Gianni Lunardi, his doubles partner. An avid sports fan, Tony loved all sports: The Kelowna Packers in the 60s, The Montreal Canadiens, and his beloved Inter soccer team. He was a season’s ticket holder for the Kelowna Rockets for many years. The World Cup soccer games were always a long awaited and welcomed event. Over the years, Sandra and Tony travelled to Italy, many times. They were blessed to be surrounded by their grandchildren: Melanie, Christian, Migell, Jessica, Anthony and Alexander. They enjoyed many family dinners made by Sandra, who was a phenomenal cook! Sandra passed away in 2016, at 89 years of age, leaving Tony to be cared for by his daughters, Anna and Lorraine. Tony passed away in 2020, at 94 years of age, at home, surrounded by family. They are interred together at the Kelowna Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Lorraine Bertucci Haines, daughter Celeste, brother to Giovanni, Ivonne and Albino, was born in 1935 in Moussoulens, France, but grew up in Tarvesio, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northern Italy. He is the son of Valentino Bazzana and Santina Paron, originally from San Giovanni di Casarsa. Times were tough in Italy after World War II, so Celeste decided he would have better opportunities in Canada. He immigrated in 1953 and headed for the Nordegg Mine in Alberta to a job arranged by his nonno, Celeste Paron, who worked there for many years.
Because Celeste was an unusual name in Canada, co-workers at the Nordegg Mine gave Celeste the nickname Charlie. The name stuck long after he left the mine. Celeste did not stay in Nordegg for long. Brother Giovanni, uncle Igino Bazzana and aunt Cestilia Bazzana (Culos) all lived in Kelowna, BC, so Celeste followed suit. He found work at the Kelowna Machine Shop (Monashee Manufacturing) and after a short time was offered an apprenticeship as a machinist. By 1961, facing layoffs due to slowing business, the boss offered Celeste a tip about a machinist position at the local sawmill. Not only did Celeste get the job, but he remained at the mill for the next 39 years during its incarnations as S.M. Simpson Sawmill, Crown Zellerbach, Crown Forest, and Riverside Forest Products. Jean Schneider was born in 1935 to John and Pauline Schneider of Rutland. In 1927 the Schneiders purchased a farm on the corner of Rutland and Fitzpatrick Roads. The family business, Schneider Hauling, primarily delivered fruit to packing houses. In later years Schneider Hauling evolved into Schneider Logging, a full-fledged logging company. Jean and Celeste were married in 1958. They bought a lot on Rutland Road and built a house, complete with a wine-making shed and a wine cellar. Celeste and Jean had three sons: Dale, Kevin and Gordon. Jean, passed away in 1994. Celeste is an enthusiast of Italy’s favourite pastimes; soccer, skiing and bocce. In the mid 1950s he joined the local men’s soccer team, the Kelowna Hotspurs. Celeste became a youth soccer coach in the early 1970s and propelled his Rutland team to multiple tournament victories and division championships. Growing up in the mountains of northern Italy, Celeste learned to ski at an early age and would often cross-country ski to school. After settling in Rutland, he took up both downhill and cross-country skiing. In the early days he would frequent the ski hill on Black Mountain. Celeste was a founding member of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club in 1966. He was also a member of the Kelowna Bocce Club and the Sons Of Italy. Celeste could regularly be found working on the bocce courts or helping to organize bocce tournaments for one of the clubs or for the BC 55+ Games. In February 2020, Celeste and partner, Barbara Dieno, were the recipients of a City Of Kelowna “Community Sport Hero” award for their contribution to the promotion and development of the sport of bocce in the Okanagan. Gordon Bazzana, son (From his obituary)
"Luciano Giuseppe Andreucci passed away peacefully at the age of 68 years. He will be remembered by his loving mother Anna Andreucci, brothers and sisters, Maria (Lou) Zol, Winfield, BC. Delfo Andreucci, Rudy (Alexandra) Andreucci, Summerland BC. Sadly predeceased by his dedicated father Angelo Andreucci. Luciano immigrated from Italy along with his family in 1956 when he was 12 years old. Luciano was a loving son and caring brother. He was a hard worker and had a great love of cars and driving. Unfortunately during the prime of his adult life Luciano required special care. He spent the majority of his time in care facilities. He cherished the visit of friends and family and forgot no one, always asking about the wellbeing of others." Angelo Giuseppe Andreucci was born on July 8, 1915, in Grangnanella Castelnuovo, Garfagnana, Lucca, Italy. He was one of twelve children of Silvio Andreucci and Mariuccia Rossi. On December 11, 1943, he married Anna Maria Biagioni. Anna Maria was born on October 11, 1924, in Ceretoli, Castelnuonvo, Garfagnana, Lucca. She was one of eight children to parents Michele and Gemma Biagioni. Angelo, Anna Maria, and their four children, Luciano, Maria, Delfino, and Rodolfo, made their way to Canada in 1956. Their journey landed them in Halifax, Nova Scotia where they boarded a train headed to the Kootenays in British Columbia. From there they boarded the Kettle Valley Railway and made their way to Penticton, BC, where Angelo’s brother, Nello, was already located.
Angelo began an orcharding career in Summerland, BC, with Anna Maria seasonally working in the local packing houses. Angelo, Anna Maria, and family spent many fond times on trips to the local lakes. It was not uncommon to have dozens of other family and friends join them for fishing and cooking up a feast with their catch. These picnics were happy times for all who gathered. Sausage and wine making were other important jobs conducted each year. They were not only important events, but also sociable times that were enjoyed each year. Angelo passed away on November 12, 1995, and Anna Maria on August 2, 2016. They are both laid to rest at the Canyon View Cemetery, Summerland, BC.. Don Rampone, KCIC Heritage Committee |