 August (Augie) Robert Casorso was born, at home, November 10, 1917, the fourth child of Catarina and Louis Casorso. At that time, the family lived in a house on the Rampone property on Benvoulin Road, in Kelowna, BC. Soon after, the family moved back to the main Casorso Ranch, and this is where August and his older siblings, Mary(1909) and John(1911), grew up. His older sister, Elizabeth (1913) died at age two(1915).
August, known fondly as Gus or Augie, attended Mission Creek Elementary School and later, Kelowna Secondary School. He completed Grade 13 and then attended Herbert Business College in Kelowna. August specialized in accounting and became a bookkeeper and accountant for the Casorso Brothers' business, originally known as the Sanitary Market, later named the Gordon Meat Market. In 1940, at the age of 23, at the beginning of WW II, August enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His training, as a navigator, took place in Vernon, BC and Regina, Saskatchewan. August was stationed mainly in England, but also served in North Africa. After August's tours of duty, he became a navigation instructor and officer at Honeybourne, near Evesham, England. This is where he met Muriel Haines. Muriel Florence Haines, the third child of Albert and Florence Haines, was born in Penarth, Wales on December 3, 1922. Her elder siblings were Charles and Kathleen. Albert, her father, was in charge of a nursery in Penarth and when Muriel was nine years old, he moved the family to Badsey, Evesham, England. After the move, he became a market gardener. Muriel was an avid learner and completed her matriculation (equivalent to Grade 13), at age 16. Her dream was to attend Art school but due to the war and lack of funds, she trained for the career of telephone operator. This proved to be valuable for communication in the war effort as the Evesham Exchange was one of the main telephone exchange bases for the British, throughout WW II. Muriel had a beautiful singing voice, and along with her siblings, Charles and Kathleen, often entertained the troops at a canteen, in Badsey. As well, the main entertainment during the war years were local dances, and Muriel loved, and often competed in ballroom dancing. At one of these dances she met August Casorso. August and Muriel were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Evesham, Worcestershire, England, on November 23, 1944. Soon after, August was sent back to Canada, on leave, leaving his young bride behind. The war in Europe ended on May 7, 1945, before Augie could return. Muriel, along with other war brides and their children, traveled by escorted ship and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in June of 1945. She traveled west by train and was met in Calgary, Alberta, by August, where they continued on to Kelowna. August and Muriel settled in Kelowna at the Casorso Ranch, where they resided with August's father, Louis, in the 1907 house. That is where August grew up. Here they raised their family of seven children- Margaret, Bernadette, Christine, Frances, Joan, John and Robert. August decided to help his father run the family farm. Over the years they raised pigs, grew onions, vegetables, fruits of all kinds and wine and table grapes. August was very involved with the vegetable, fruit and wine boards and along with Muriel, were lifelong, faithful supporters of their Catholic Parish and Catholic School communities. Muriel was famous for her singing voice, cooking, baking, storytelling and remarkable memory. The Casorso farm was always a place of hospitality, where relatives, friends and strangers were welcomed. August died April 22, 2000 in Kelowna. Muriel died September 16, 2013 in Kelowna. They are buried in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery on Casorso Road Kelowna, BC. Contributed by Christine Casorso Schmidt, daughter
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 Tom lived and breathed the history of Kelowna, BC. He remembered every detail of the city development during his years. Driving around many of the streets in Kelowna with Tom was like listening to an historical account of the families and buildings that were present, fifty years ago.
Thomas Archangelo Capozzi was born in Kelowna, on October 10, 1928. He was the youngest son of Pasquale and Maria Capozzi. Even though life growing up in Kelowna was not all play, Tom certainly made it look that way. His parents engendered a strong work ethic in him. There was no such luxury as “free time,” so he became an expert at making play out of his school/work/church day. Regarding school somewhat of a respite, Tom thoroughly enjoyed his elementary and junior high days in Kelowna. His classmates report he was not the quietest of students, but he was enthusiastic and a very quick study. Off to Vancouver City College for his senior high school years, Tom was subsequently recruited to Portland University and UCLA on a football scholarship to study business. The Okanagan enchanted Tom and he returned to Kelowna to discover the real world of business. He followed his father’s footsteps as one of the builders of Kelowna through his position as executive Vice President of Capozzi Enterprises, Executive Vice President of Calona Wines, and Director of Calona Distillers Ltd. Tom was an original director of the BC Wine Council who established the VQA quality wines. Tom met and married Babs (Josephine) in the 1960’s. They had four children: Cameron, Cascia, Caron and Colin. During the children’s growing up years, Tom was often travelling, but he enjoyed his weekends at home with family and friends. When I met Tom in the early 1980’s, he was experiencing challenging business times. Tom’s children were grown, and he and Babs had previously decided that they made better friends than marriage partners. Tom and I were married several years later and he started a new adventure as an “at home” father of two girls, Lauren and Krista. Although Tom’s cancer diagnosis in 1998 interrupted the teen years of his two daughters, he was determined to do everything he could to spend as much time as possible with them. Lauren spoke at Tom’s funeral “…we spent much of our time trying to keep up with dad - not only on the ski hill, or on the tennis court, but in fullness of his spirit, the quickness of his wit, and how he made conversation an art.” A deep seated belief that we must all give back to our community the gifts our community gives us, led Tom to be an original founder of the Central Okanagan Foundation. He truly cherished his home town, the City of Kelowna. Adapted from the 68th Report of the OHS, 2004, written by his wife, Barbara Gail Plecash.  Peo Barrera was born in 1930 on the Barrera family farm, located between Casorso Road and Lakeshore Road in Kelowna, BC. He attended Mission Creek School on the corner of K.L.O. and Benvoulin Roads. Life at that time was routine - chores in the morning milking cows, school during the days, then, more chores after school. He hung out with his older brother, Camillo, and his best friend, John Risso, playing marbles and other games. At age sixteen, he joined the Air Cadets, but one ride in an airplane was enough for Peo to know that the Air Cadets was not for him. After attending Kelowna Senior Secondary, he spent his days working on the farm.
Peo met his wife, Mary, quite by accident. In 1960, Mary’s mother, Nellie Kolody, saw an ad for a pen pal in the Free Press Weekly – Prairie Report, a newspaper that served the western provinces. Nellie dared her daughter to answer the ad and that she did. Peo and Mary began to exchange letters about farm life, for many months. When Mary’s father found out he was none too pleased but said to his daughter, “If you like this man, we should go and meet him.” So, the Kolodys took the train to Kelowna in the summer of 1960. Apparently, Peo passed the “good enough for his daughter” test and the letters resumed back and forth. Peo traveled to Bremen, Saskatchewan, to see Mary and her family, in November 1960. They got engaged on that trip. Peo and Mary were married in Cudworth, Saskatchewan, on February 11, 1961. There had been a blizzard the week leading up to the wedding, but the weather cleared up and was sunny for the ceremony. Peo & Mary moved into their house on Lakeshore Road close by the Barrera farm. Their son, John, was born in December 1961. Daughter, Gina, was born in December 1962 with their youngest child, Cindy, following in April 1964. Peo worked at Byland’s Nurseries and then at Ellison Lake Sawmill. After that, he was hired by Canada Post as a letter carrier. After the farm was sold in 1968, Peo & Mary moved their family to the Belgo area of Rutland, then, to their house on Pinetree Road. In 1974, they built their house in Okanagan Mission and settled there for quite a few years. In 1997, they made the decision to leave Kelowna and move to Calgary, Alberta, to be closer to all their children. Peo & Mary both had a life-long love of gardening and growing things. They moved to their condo in the 2000s, and had to give up their flower and vegetable gardens. Seeing a void in their lives, their daughter, Cindy, graciously offered them her back yard to putter in, and they affectionately became known as “The Yard Crew”. Peo Barrera passed away on June 19, 2022. Mary still lives in their condo, where she enjoys many visits with her children and grandchildren. She also talks, frequently, with her great grandchildren by phone (no computer for her!). Contributed by Cindy Barrera Parmelee, daughter  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. Contributed by Josie Barrera Hagglund, daughter  Dominico (Nick) Alimonti was born to Joseph and Rosa Alimonti on October 7, 1928, in Kelowna, BC. His first years were spent at a farm in Mission Creek, across the road from the Father Pandosy Mission, and attending Mission Creek School. In 1944, his parents purchased a larger farm on Old Vernon Road, where he helped his father.
Sheila Barbara Paisley’s mom, Barbara McCrindle Paisley, was also a pioneer in the Kelowna area, immigrating from Scotland in May 1910, with her first husband, William Henry Paisley. William passed away in Kelowna in 1925. Barbara lived in Kelowna until late 1927, when she moved to Princeton, married James Murdoch and ran a restaurant. Sheila was born to James Murdoch and Barbara Paisley on August 27, 1928 in Princeton, BC. In early September 1928, Barbara moved back to Kelowna with her three daughters, Jean, Pat and Sheila. In Kelowna, she ran the Teahouse in City Park for many years. Barbara passed away on June 28, 1964. Sheila and Nick married in Vancouver, BC, on November 4, 1952. Upon returning to Kelowna, they lived on the farm with his parents. In 1956, they moved into Kelowna to a house on Coronation Avenue. In 1959, they moved to St. Paul Street. and in 1969, to their last house on Kelglen Crescent. Sheila and Nick had four children: Keith (1955), Nancy (1958), Judie (1960) and Cathy (1964). Sadly, Judie passed away in 2017, while living in Ottawa, Ontario. Nick worked for the BC Department of Highways, driving a dump truck, a job he kept until his retirement, thirty-five years later. Sheila worked part time during their marriage – the Laurel packing house, Super Valu (as a cashier) and the Bay. Nick and Sheila were avid campers and spent many summers with their children in different parts of BC. In later life, they liked to travel on bus tours to Reno, Nevada, to try their hand at gambling. One of Nick’s last trips was to travel to Italy, with Judie, to visit family, some of whom he had never met before. In 2012, Nick hosted a family reunion to celebrate one hundred years in the Kelowna area – a milestone of which he was very proud. About forty members of the extended Alimonti family were able to attend a dinner and enjoy a display of the family history. Sheila passed away in July 1984 and Nick continued to live in the house on Kelglen Crescent for a number of years. He then moved into retirement communities until his death in November, 2019. Contributed by Nancy and Cathy Alimonti, daughters  Katherine (Katie) Alimonti was born in Kelowna, BC, on March 5, 1926. She was the eldest child born to Joseph and Rosa Alimonti. The family lived on a small farm across from the present Pandosy Mission. Katie attended Mission Creek School until grade 8, when she was needed on the home front to help look after younger siblings. She enjoyed school, received awards for McLean method penmanship excellence, had hidden artistic talents, did well academically, and in her last year, received the honour of being Miss Mission Creek, as part of community May Day celebrations. In her teen years she worked at the Mugford Store at the corner of Benvoulin and KLO Roads.
In 1944, the Alimonti family moved to the Ellison area, where Joseph and Rosa purchased a 60 acre farm from Frank Bell, and ran a mixed farming operation. Addy, born January 21, 1923, was the second eldest of the Klein family, who owned a large orchard in Ellison. His father died suddenly in 1938, leaving a wife and four children to look after the farm. The children attended Ellison School, although Addy needed to leave school after Grade 7 to work on the farm. Katie and Addy met, as they lived across the road from each other, and on October 17, 1946, were married. They lived in a small house on the Alimonti farm. Addy worked at logging jobs and worked for Kelowna Tractor Sprayers. They purchased a house on Highway 97, near Reid’s Corner, and shortly after, in 1949, purchased a 20 acre parcel of the recently subdivided Simpson Ranch on Old Vernon Road in Ellison. Here, with a growing family, they engaged in mixed farming: potatoes, grain, alfalfa, vegetables, rhubarb, corn, a small dairy herd, pigs, beef cattle, and chickens. To supplement the farm income, in 1955, Addy got a job as a mechanic at Kelowna Machine Works (later called Monashee Manufacturing), where logging and lumbering equipment was manufactured. Katie worked at Crete Sherriff’s Five to a Dollar Store, at Crossroad Supplies, and at McLean and Fitzpatrick Packinghouse. Katie and Addy raised four children: Jim, Brian, Eileen and Chris. Jim became a teacher, and a principal in School District 23. Brian worked on ranches and later became Grounds Superintendent at Kelowna Springs Golf Course. Eileen worked as a District Home Economist in Alberta, and later with Alberta Ministry of Advanced Education. Chris worked for many years as Legal Secretary, and is presently a receptionist in a Kelowna Law office. In 1974, Addy died, suddenly, at the age of 51. Katie continued to oversee the farm work, although eventually scaling the farm work down to growing hay crops on a crop share basis. She continued to work at the Packinghouse, grading fruit and in later years, working in a quality control capacity. Katie also enjoyed some travelling. She enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Japan, Great Britain, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Tuktoyaktuk. She especially enjoyed a few family retreat trips with her four kids. Katie remained on the 20 acre farm for 64 years. She moved to an assisted living retirement facility in 2013, but sadly, only enjoyed that for six months, until she passed away December 13, 2013, at the age of 87. Contributed by Jim Klein, son  Gina Antonia Alimonti was born on June 13, 1938, when her family was living on their Benvoulin Road farm in Kelowna, BC. She started grade one at Mission Creek School before moving on to Ellison School, where she spent the next six years. Grades seven to twelve were taken at Rutland Junior - Senior School, where she graduated in 1956. After graduation, she visited the local employment office and landed a job with the advertising department of BC Tree Fruits.
After her marriage to Bob Jensen, they moved to North Vancouver, BC, and Prince Rupert, BC. With her father’s (Joseph’s) passing in 1963, she moved back to Kelowna. Gina’s mother, Rosa, was able to look after her two boys, which allowed Gina to work for “Uncle Pasq” (Pasquale Barrera), harvesting vegetables. Max James Yarrow was born on February 14, 1921 in Andrew, Alberta. In 1940, he joined the airforce and spent 1942-1945 in England, as an aeronautics mechanic. Max had always loved building things. After his war service years, he returned to Andrew, Alberta, and began a career in construction. In 1965, Max was travelling from Edmonton with friends. They were visiting neighbours, next door to Rosa and Gina’s home. One day, Max took up conversation with Gina over the fence. That eventually led to their marriage. In 1967, Gina and Max headed north, for two years, with the construction of the Peace River Dam. By 1969, they were back in Kelowna, where Max helped with the construction of the Kiwanis Tower, the Bank of Nova Scotia, the KGH Rehab unit and the Kelowna water treatment plant. Max and Gina have three boys: Michael, Clark and Wayne. As their boys grew older, Max and Gina spent much time with their camper and car top boat, exploring most of British Columbia’s fishing lakes. When not fishing, Gina and Max enjoyed their walking journeys. Max was an avid library user and reader. History and political stories were his passion throughout his life until his passing in 2008. Michael (Karen Gerlitz) lives in Calgary. He owns Sports Experts franchises in Calgary, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Hinton. Clark (Lori Jakins) is the City of Kelowna Gravel Operations supervisor. Wayne (Tara Burstyk) lives in Squamish, BC where he works in the Travel and Accommodation Industry. They have one child, Kate. D. E. Rampone, Kelowna Canadian Italian Club  Kelowna’s early Italian families worked hard but, by the 1920s, they often used Sundays to take a break from their usual routine. Their love of nature and foraging off the land were often combined when they would join other families for Sunday picnics. They would gather at the bocce lane at the Italian hall or at a family home. Fishing was also a favourite pass time on Sunday afternoons, in places such as Joe Rich and Canyon Creek. Cars were scarce so most times they would jump aboard the back of a farm truck and make their way to Shuswap Falls, Polson Park in Vernon or the Summerland Experimental Station. 
 Probably the largest picnic gathering was in 1938 at the Italian Hall.  Many of these picnicking families are featured in this year’s collection of First Family Stories. They are the first generation descendants of Italian immigrants and they were all born between 1920 and 1939.
Also in our collection are: our 2019 stories: Kelowna Families Arriving Before 1919, our 2020 stories: Families Arriving Before 1939, our 2021 stories: Families Arriving Before 1959 and our 2022 stories: The 1966 Founding Members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. Thank you to all the Builder Families that shared your stories with us for our 2022 First Family Stories. If you missed any, here are quick links to all this year's profiles.
 The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club owes its existence to the twenty-one charter members and the twenty-four, first year members of our club. These 45 families are honoured on the Founders Plaques in the KCIC Hall. We are a proud club. Since its inception, in 1966, we have operated solely on volunteer participation. Many members have worked hard into their 80s. Our members are cooks, chefs, carpenters, artisans, orchardists, farmers, clerks, office workers and business owners. In our 56 years of existence, there have also been hundreds of others who have served in executive, director, committee and member roles. They have provided building maintenance, cooked dinners, organized galas, volunteered in the community, built and maintained bocce lanes, raised funds, balanced the books, built floats, taught cooking, language and dance classes, presented Lady of the Lake candidates, and phoned members.
There is one couple for which we would like to provide a special tribute… Joe and Bianca Iafrancesco. They may not been founding members, but for the past 50 years they were definitely builders of the club that we see today. On behalf of all the members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, Thank you for all your work. ******************************************************************* Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco and Maria Bianca Russo Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco was born on March 19, 1947 in Sepino, Campobasso, Italy. He was the son of Pasquale Iafrancesco and Vittoria Iafrancesco (nee Ficocelli). He had twin siblings, brother Giovanni and sister Vitangela, born in 1937. Joe’s father, Pasquale, immigrated to Canada in 1949 and went to work for Canadian Pacific Railway in Field, B.C. Brother, Giovanni, immigrated in 1953 and sister, Vitangela, immigrated in 1957. Joe and his mother arrived by air at Montreal in 1963 and went on to Calgary, Alberta to join the family. In 1967, Joe was employed by Canadian Pacific Railway, spending thirty years as a Conductor/Brakeman with both the running trades and VIA Rail. In 1976, he married his lifetime partner, Maria Bianca Russo (herein after referred to as Bianca), daughter of Amedeo and Armerinda Russo (nee Pucci) in Kelowna, B.C. Bianca was born in Cleto, Cosenza, Italy in 1952. She immigrated to Canada in 1957, landing at Ellis Island, NY, traveling north to Fort. Erie, Ontario and onto Kelowna. She has four sisters-Lucia, Florinda, Rita and Erminia and two brothers - Franco and Settimio. Bianca worked as an accountant/tax preparer throughout her career. She owned her own accounting practice for many years before selling it prior to retirement. She sat on Interior Savings Credit Union board for sixteen years. Throughout their years together, Joe and Bianca invested in and managed their commercial and residential properties. They also enjoyed their hobby orchard in Glenmore. Joe loved his vintage cars, golfing and volunteering. An exemplary volunteer and very social person, Joe was well known in Kelowna for his dedication/commitment to community. Locally, he spent endless hours helping various community organizations, including the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, Knights of Columbus, Columbus Holding Society, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Rutland Business Association, Downtown Kelowna Association, Central OK Crimestoppers, Folkfest, BC Summer Games and numerous charity fundraising events. Provincially and federally, he volunteered his time for the National Congress of Italian Canadians, the National Museum of Civilization (Ottawa) and the 2001 opening of Pier 21 (Halifax). Joe’s passion was his Italian culture and the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. He served as President for fifteen years, as well as other positions. He spent countless hours working to make sure that the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club survived, was in good financial status and that the Italian culture remained strong in Kelowna for future generations. Under his guidance, many projects and fundraisers were achieved, including the major renovation of the clubhouse in 2015, the 1st BC Provincial Convention in 1983 and the 1st Western Canadian Convention of BC Italian clubs/organizations (1984), the fundraisers for the Italian earthquake relief efforts, Variety Club Telethon fundraisers and numerous other fundraisers to help the community. Always at his side, Bianca served various positions with the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club as well. Joe’s recognition awards were many and include the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), Kelowna’s Fred Macklin Man of the Year Award (2018), Finalist for Kelowna’s Fred Macklin Man of the Year (1989 and 2000) and Central OK Crimestoppers Volunteer of the Year Award (1998). An optimist to the very end, Joe passed away from lung cancer on November 2, 2018. He touched many lives and will continue to do so through his very substantial donations to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and Kelowna’s Joanna’s House and through the time and help he gave to so many volunteer organizations and people. He is entombed at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Kelowna, B.C. Maria Bianca (Russo) Iafrancesco |
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Our Clubhouse770 Lawrence Ave.
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The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club acknowledges that our clubhouse is situated on the beautiful unceded traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. Who, for thousands of years, have lived in harmony with nature and continue to this day to offer us so much culture and understanding.