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
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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 On March 22, 1966, The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club was granted a Certificate of Incorporation in the province of British Columbia. Above we include that document and the signature pages of the original Charter.
The story for Angelo and Clelia Martinelli was published in 2020 and can be found at:
Angelo and Clelia Martinelli TThe stories for Sergio and Clelia Bertolami, Frank and Romi Marcanio, Pietro and Esterina Turri and Pietro and Erika Calissi were published in 2021 and can be found at: Sergio and Clelia Bertolami Frank and Romi Marcanio Pietro and Esterina Turri Pietro and Erika Calissi Gelindo and Gina Fabbro
Gelindo was one of the twenty-one Charter Members that formed the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. He was one of several Summerland families that we thank for their work in getting our club in Kelowna formed. Gelindo and his wife, Gina, farmed in the Summerland area for many years. They have one son, Leo. Gelindo passed away in 2020. Gina was sister to Olivia Morello. Upon his request, details of his life are to remain private. Don Rampone, KCIC Heritage Committee Dominico and Olivia (Livia) Morello Dominico Morello was one of the forty-one founding members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club in 1966. At the time, Dominico was a shoemaker and Livia was a sales clerk. They lived at 1295 Glenmore Street, Kelowna, BC, across from the St Pius X Church. They had one daughter, Piera Francesca, who married Gary Patrick Greaves. Piera and Gary spent most of their years in Drumheller, Alberta. Livia was sister to Gina Fabbro. Don Rampone, KCIC Heritage Committee The stories for Rosario and Giovanna Di Maria, Alfredo and Valentina Calissi, Amedeo and Armerinda Russo, Pasquale and Vittoria Iafrancesco and Giovanni and Gina Petretta were published in 2021 and can be found at:
Rosario and Giovanna Di Maria Alfredo and Valentina Calissi Amedeo and Armerinda Russo Pasquale and Vittoria Iafrancesco Giovanni and Gina Petretta The story for Samuele and Maria Turri was published in 2019 and can be found here.
Samuele and Maria Turri The stories for Santo and Carmela Giordano, Santo and Italia Truant, Luigi and Regina Bazzana and Guilio and Giovanna Menta were published in 2020 and can be found at: Santo and Carmela Giordano Santo and Italia Truant Luigi and Regina Bazzana Guilio and Giovanna Menta |