Leonardo and Maddalena, Santo and ITALIA Truant

Antonio Truant, from Pordenone, Friuli, Italy married Maria and together they had four sons: Osvaldo (Oswald), Giuseppe, Leonardo (Leo) and Santo.  Oswald was the first to immigrate from Italy, destined for Hosmer, BC in 1913.  Leo followed in 1927 (to Cobalt, Ontario), Giuseppe in 1928 (Trail, BC) and Santo in 1948.

At age 24, Leonardo travelled from San Giorgio delta Richinvelda, Udine to Toronto for work.  He ended up in Red Lake, Ontario where he worked for twelve years as a miner.  He returned to Italy in 1931 to bring his wife, Maddalena (Lena) Angela, whom he had married by proxy, back to Red Lake.  In 1941 he moved his family to Kelowna, where they bought a thirteen acre parcel of land on K.L.O. Road.  Leo worked at the Simpson Sawmill until his retirement.  Lena managed and worked the farm for many years.  Two daughters were born: Mary (Brian Volpatti) in 1935 and Vanda in 1938.  Leo was a very social person and, along with Lena, belonged to the Italian Club.  They spent many evenings playing cards with friends.  Leo loved to bowl and did so on a regular basis.  The family belonged to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

When Santo arrived in Kelowna, he lived with his brother, Leo and his wife Lena, helping on their farm.  Santo was a founding member of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club and the Kelowna Bocce Club.  Santo was a mechanic for the City of Kelowna, maintaining all the service vehicles for them.  With this knowledge, he not only built and maintained his home, but was also always willing to give a helping hand to his friends and neighbours, with mechanical services.  Santo's wife, Italia, was a great cook. She used all the vegetables and fruit from their garden to make delicious meals.  Italia worked in the Packing Houses in Kelowna; it was not an easy job, but she enjoyed the camaraderie she established with her co-workers. Santo and Italia’s children, Yolanda, Mario and Nives, were all married in Kelowna. Yolanda and Nives still reside in town.

Mary Volpatti, Yolanda Wilderman and Nives Zvaniga.