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Le prime famiglie italiane di Kelowna 

The first Italian families of Kelowna

Egisto Bigattini

6/4/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Marino, Egisto and Reno Bigattini
Egisto was one of five children of Angelo Bigattini and Sofia Martellini.  He was born on August 9, 1884 in Santa Fiora, Grosetto, Tuscany, Italy.  In 1909, he left Italy, as there was no work.  After eighteen days, he landed on Ellis Island and was quarantined. From Ellis Island, he travelled to Fernie, BC where he set up a bakery. He married eighteen year old, Rosa Lozza, in 1912. They had three children: Alma, Elya and Gino.  Gino died at age twelve, after running a fever for only one day.  Rosa passed away in 1921.

Egisto moved to Cranbrook, BC, where he married Erminia Vanoni.  Egisto owned a hotel, and a bowling alley.  He also operated a bus line that ran to Fernie. Egisto and Herminia had  three children: Joseph, Reno, and Erminia. Joseph and Reno were soldiers in WWII. Joe was an entertainer and Reno a soldier. Reno died in 1944, at age 19, in Flanders Fields, Belgium. The City of Cranbrook named Bigattini Mountain in his honour.  Erminia died during the birth of baby Erminia. 

In 1941, Egisto married Florence Rodwinski. They had Alexander, Florence, Reno and Marino.  In 1947 Egisto and Florence moved to Rutland (Kelowna, BC). They built a bakery with living quarters at the corner of Highway 33 and Kneller Road. The large white building is still there.  Egisto had plans for a hotel and bar, but the neighbourhood vetoed that. He was a baker and store owner, who gave charge accounts to many struggling neighbours.  He made wine, imported cheese and other items from Italy. He also played the accordion and wrote music. Kelowna’s Remi Picco, a child in Cranbrook, road his bicycle to Mr. Bigattini for lessons.
 
In 1960, Egisto opened a second bakery in Lumby, BC, where he became a large part of that community, entertaining in the evenings with his accordion. His wife, Florence, ran the bakery in Rutland.  Egisto passed away in Kelowna, on April 29, 1963 after a short illness.   He is interred at Lakeview Memorial Garden Cemetery, Kelowna, BC.

Reno Bigattini
1 Comment
Raymond Burigana
3/2/2023 06:23:56 pm

Hi Reno
Elya Bigattini (your father’s first wife)was my Nona and my father’s mother. My father’s name is Carlo Egisto Burigana. I remember my Nona’s half brother my Uncle Joe. Elya and Joe lived next store to one another in Toronto. Uncle Joe and Auntie Betty Bigattini had two kids (Reno and Carla)
Reno died very young in a plane crash and Carla had 3 girls and a boy. We were all well connected growing up in the 70’s and 80’s.

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    Research and photos of First Families by Don Rampone

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  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About KCIC and Our History
    • President's Message
    • Vice President's Message
    • Executive and Directors
    • Membership
    • Volunteers
  • NEWS & ARTICLES
    • The Grapevine Newsletter
    • THE ITALIAN GARDENER
    • Kelowna's First Families
    • Pietro's Spazio Sport
    • Book Reviews
    • Mangia Mangia Recipes
  • WHAT'S HAPPENING AT KCIC
    • 2023 Calendar
    • Club Happenings >
      • Joe Avati World Tour
      • KCIC Dinners & Special Events
      • La Nostra Famiglia Italiana >
        • Upcoming NFI Events >
          • NFI - Spaghetti
        • Past NFI Events >
          • NFI - Bisnonno
          • NFI - L'Acqua
          • NFI - Terrazzo
          • NFI - Guerra
          • NFI - Lilia
          • Coming to Pier 21
          • Dalla Terra
          • Dialetti!
          • Sveva Caetani
          • Emilio Picariello
        • Family Tree Workshops
        • Between Neighbours
      • Giuseppe's Cafe
      • La Bella Tavola - Cooking Classes
      • Bocce
      • La Scuola Italiana - Italian Language
      • KCIC Library
    • Il Nostro Lascito Legacy Project
    • Our 55th Birthday!
  • More From Us
    • CONTACT US
    • 50th ANNIVERSARY >
      • 50th Anniversary
      • Mercato
      • Dinner & Dance Gala
    • Miss Kelowna Cdn. Italian Club
    • PHOTOS >
      • Photos
    • Calendar Page
  • Take Out Dinners
  • New Page