Camillo Barrera and Nina Buscaino

Camillo Barrera was born in Rutland, BC, on November 21, 1924. As a toddler, the family moved to their farm home on Lakeshore Road in Kelowna, BC. Camillo attended school at Mission Creek Elementary and then left school to help on the family farm.

Eugenia Buscaino was born in Chefalu, a Sicilian beach town in Italy. In 1954, she along with her mother and sister, immigrated to Vancouver,  BC, to meet up with her father. Shortly after, the Buscaino family moved to Rutland. Eugenia (or Nina as she was more commonly known) ordered tomatoes from an Italian family that her neighbour had recommended. Nina and Camillo met when he delivered the tomatoes to her home. The two were married on May 7, 1960 at Immaculate Conception church in Kelowna. 

Nina and Camillo lived on what was then, Boyce Road, in Kelowna (currently Swordy Road).  When the family farm was sold, Camillo obtained a job as a labourer with the City of Kelowna. He kept a small piece of land on Bechard Road, that was originally part of the farm.  Here, they built their home, where they raised their four children.  When Camillo was not working, he took great pride and joy in his vegetable garden and yard. Neighbours were always happy to be the recipient of his fruits and vegetables. However, they were not thrilled with his method of scaring the birds out of the cherry trees with the radio, on high volume, at five in the morning.

In 1972, Camillo was diagnosed with cancer and battled the disease until he passed away on March 8, 1986. At this time, Camillo and Nina had one grandchild. They would go on to have four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Nina left Kelowna in 2015 and lived in North Vancouver, with Vittorio De Benedetto, until his passing. Presently, she resides in Port Moody near daughter, Josie.

Their oldest child, Mary Barrera lived in Kelowna with her husband, Cliff Leadly, until her passing in January, 2023.  Josie (second child) and her husband, Kevin Hagglund, have made their home in Port Moody, BC.  They take many trips to Edmonton, Alberta, to visit their oldest child, Amanda Nelund and their granddaughter, Abigail.  Their son, Jarrett Hagglund, currently resides with his husband, Zachary Sapers, in Vancouver, BC.  Louise (third child), and her husband, Patrick Guterres, live in Abbotsford, BC, where they are lucky to be near their daughter, Meagan Graham, her husband Daniel, and their two daughters, Aurora and Aria. Their son, Justin McKinlay, and spouse, Leighanne Walker, also live in Abbotsford.  Camillo and Nina’s son, Luigi Barrera, lives in Calgary with his wife Sue. 
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Contributed by Josie Barrera Hagglund, daughter