KELOWNA CANADIAN ITALIAN CLUB
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Le prime famiglie italiane di Kelowna 

The first Italian families of Kelowna

Oreste Luigi Francescutti and Katie Lanfranco

6/10/2021

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Picture
Katie Lanfranco and Oreste Francescutti
Oreste Luigi Francescutti (Gigi) was born on March 6, 1905 in Casarsa, Pordenone, Friuli, Italy.  He was one of eight children of Davide Francescutti and Eliza Morasutti.  Gigi arrived in Canada in 1927 to meet his brother, Roberto, who was working in a coal mine near Edmonton, Alberta.  He moved on to Kelowna, BC, with friends, Dick Bertoia and Michele Davide (Dino) Dapavo.  In Kelowna, he met Enrichetta (Katie) Lanfranco  (born in Kelowna October 17, 1910) and married her on December 30, 1930.  

Luigi was a brick layer by trade.  Soon after their marriage, Katie and Luigi moved to Powell River, BC.  Luigi worked in the pulp and paper mill repairing the brickwork in the ovens.  By 1932, they were back to Kelowna, where daughter, Jean (Hurdle), was born in 1932 and son, Allan, in 1945.

Upon Gigi’s return to Kelowna, he teamed up with Jack Snider.  Jack and Gigi found a cabin near Lumby and began cutting railway ties.  Following this, Luigi began working in the masonry trade, in Kelowna, with Egidio Orsi.  Gigi and Katie also operated a small farm on KLO Road and later, acquired land on Gordon Road.  They raised hay and grew grapes and prunes.  Katie worked each fall for various Kelowna packing houses.  She was a very accomplished stitcher, creating many large art works, some taking up to a year to create.

In later years, Luigi and Katie undertook property management.  They moved houses from various parts of Kelowna and established them on new foundations in the Gordon and KLO Road areas.  During retirement, they began travelling, taking many bus tours.    Luigi passed away in 1985 and Katie in 2004.  They are laid to rest at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, Kelowna, BC.

Don Rampone
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    Research and photos of First Families by Don Rampone

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The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club acknowledges that our clubhouse is situated on the beautiful unceded traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. Who, for thousands of years, have lived in harmony with nature and continue to this day to offer us so much culture and understanding.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • President's Message
    • Vice President's Message
    • Executive and Directors
    • About KCIC and Our History
    • Membership
    • Volunteers
  • NEWS & ARTICLES
    • The Grapevine Newsletter
    • THE ITALIAN GARDENER
    • Kelowna's First Families
  • WHAT'S HAPPENING AT KCIC
    • 2025 Calendar
    • Club Happenings >
      • Bocce
      • Ferragosto Family Picnic
      • Aperitivo Vibes
      • Giuseppe's Cafe
      • Night at the Opera
      • Trattoria Dinners
      • LUNCH Open House
      • La Bella Tavola - Cooking Classes
      • KCIC Library
      • La Nostra Famiglia Italiana >
        • Order First Family Books!
        • CASORSO DOCUMENTARY
        • Upcoming NFI Events
        • Il Nostro Lascito Legacy Project
        • Past NFI Events >
          • NFI - ROOTS TO RESILIENCE
          • NFI - Follow That Bell!
          • NFI - Spaghetti
          • NFI - Bisnonno
          • NFI - L'Acqua
          • NFI - Terrazzo
          • NFI - Guerra
          • NFI - Lilia
          • Coming to Pier 21
          • Dalla Terra
          • Dialetti!
          • Sveva Caetani
          • Emilio Picariello
          • Between Neighbours
      • Ladies Night Out
      • Vendemmia Highlights 2024
      • Family Games Night
      • Festa Della Repubblica
    • Our 55th Birthday!
  • More From Us
    • CONTACT US
    • Clubhouse Rentals
    • 50th ANNIVERSARY >
      • 50th Anniversary
      • Mercato
      • Dinner & Dance Gala
    • Miss Kelowna Cdn. Italian Club
    • Calendar Page
  • Take Out Dinners
  • Family Games Night