Luciano Zol and Maria Andreucci

Luciano (Lou) Zol was born in the small village of Orcenico Superiore, Pordenone, Udine, Italy on May 28, 1938, to parents Rafaele Zol and Maria Pasutti.  After the tragic loss of both his parents, at the young age of thirteen, Lou bravely got on a ship and immigrated to Canada settling in Genelle, B.C., living with his aunt and uncle, Gigi Zol. He grew up to be a strong young man and a few years later moved to Cranbrook to work for a local sawmill. Boarding with the Pagurut family, he instantly became their surrogate son. This bond continued throughout his life. In 1963, Lou changed his career and moved to Kelowna to become a barber. 

Maria Luciana Andreucci was born in Antisciana, Lucca, Tuscany, on February 11, 1947 to Angelo Andreucci and Anna Maria Biagioni. Maria and her family arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1956 and made their journey by train to the Kootenays in BC.  From there, they boarded the Kettle Valley Railway and made they way to meet her uncle in Penticton. Her family became orchardists in Summerland. Maria met Lou at a chance meeting in Long’s Drug Store Coffee Shop, at the Capri Mall. His handsome looks, mischievous grin, and good-natured demeanour quickly won her attention. They were married in Summerland on July 31, 1965 and this union lasted for 56 years. 

After attending barber school in Vancouver, Lou built a successful 54-year career in barbering. He crossed paths with many people over the years and cherished these friendships. He had a way of making insignificant moments meaningful and he refused to cut a style of hair he didn’t like. If you wanted to know what was happening in Kelowna, Lou certainly knew! Maria became a hairstylist, operating a small studio in the Mediterranean Market building. Later, she opened a shop next to Lou’s barber shop on Sutherland Avenue.

Lou was very proud of his Italian heritage. In 1966, he was one of the twenty-one founders of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, where he spent many nights dancing alongside his wife, Maria. Lou’s passions in life were playing soccer, attending to his massive garden, watching junior hockey in Kelowna, and spending many years playing golf. His greatest joys were being together with his wife and having as many family and friends for visits around the dinner table. It was never a quiet time! 

Maria, and Lou have three children: Dino (Karen), Angela (Mike Lavediere), and Diano (Connie), as well as nine grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

Luciano Zol passed away on November 4th, 2021, in Kelowna, after a brief battle with cancer.
        
Dino, Angela and Diano Zol