Domenico Petretta and Maria Luparelli

(Back) Domenico, Maria (Front) Franca and Diana

Domenico Petretta was born on March 22, 1924, in Santo Stefano del Sole, in the province of Avellino, Italy.  He married Maria Luparelli (also from Santo Stefano) who was born on December 9, 1925.  They had three children: Franca born in 1953, Diana born in 1956 and Antonio (Tony) born in 1958).  

Domenico came to Canada, landing in Kelowna, BC, in 1954. He worked on the railroad for a few years.  In 1955, his wife, Maria, and daughter, Franca, followed.  After his family came, he worked for many years for the City of Kelowna.  Maria worked, for some time, at a local Packing House.

In 1965, they bought a twenty acre orchard and vineyard, in what was then called Lakeview Heights, where Domenico stayed until his death in 1998.  Maria passed away in 2015.

After moving to Vancouver, BC, in 1977, daughter, Franca, married Michael Tadman in 1979 (deceased in 2000) and worked at the University of BC from 1987 until retirement in 2018.  Diana also moved to Vancouver in 1986 and worked at the Workers Compensation Board from 1987 until 2020.  Tony worked for twenty-five years for Calona Wines, after which he took over the family vineyard. He also manages several other vineyards in Kelowna.

Domenico and Maria have three grandchildren:  Franca’s daughter, Aline (married to Justin Taylor), and Tony’s children: Daughter, Kayleen (married to Jamie Smith - their daughter Sophia and son Dominic),  and Michael (fiancée Dallace Dobbin).

Francesca Tadman