Pasquale Iafrancesco and Vittoria Pasqualina Ficocelli

Pasquale and Vittoria

Pasquale Iafrancesco, son of Giovanni and Cristina Iafrancesco, landowners, was born on May 11, 1913 in Sepino, Campobasso, Italy. Pasquale’s father, Giovanni, came to Canada sometime in 1914 and worked mostly in Alaska before returning back home in 1928. Vittoria Ficocelli, daughter of Giovanni and Vitangela Ficocelli, was born on April 14, 1909 in Sepino as well. Her father, Giovanni Ficocelli, born September 17, 1884, came to Canada in 1911 and worked in Fort Steele, BC as a section foreman for Canadian Pacific Railway for approximately 18 years. Pasquale and Vittoria were married on January 4, 1937. They had three children, twins Vitangela and Giovanni (born November 29, 1937) and Giuseppe (Joe) (born March 19, 1947).

Pasquale spent many years in the army, fighting during the war (starting with military in 1933 and then in later years being called to combat action until 1945). His family has two different medals “La Croce de Merito de Guerra” that were given to him in recognition of his service.

Sponsored by Vittoria’s cousin, Vincenzo Ficocelli, Pasquale immigrated to Canada by boat in 1949 and went to work as a section maintenance man for Canadian Pacific Railways from 1949 until 1976. He started working in Field, BC, and then to Emerald, Golden, Rogers, Stoney, Glacier, Albert Canyon, Twin Butte, Revelstoke, Sicamous, and finally to Kelowna, B.C. His son, Giovanni, immigrated in 1953 and his daughter, Vitangela, arrived in 1957. Pasquale’s wife, Vittoria, and youngest son, Giuseppe, arrived at Montreal in 1963 and continued on to Calgary, AB, to join the family. In 1964, Pasquale was transferred by CP Rail to Kelowna, B.C. He remained with CPR until his retirement in 1976. Tragically, Giovanni passed away at the age of 24 years. Daughter, Vitangela, married Gabrielle Cusanelli and remained in Calgary. Pasquale enjoyed family and friends, gardening, making homemade wine and sausages/prosciutto and was an original member of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. Vittoria worked in seasonal agricultural farming.

Son, Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco, worked for CP Rail as a conductor/brakeman from 1967 until his retirement in 1997. He married Maria Bianca Russo in 1976. Giuseppe, was involved in numerous organizations throughout his entire life. They included the Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Lions, Kelowna Chamber, National Congress of Canadian Italians and the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, where he was president for many years. Joe was recognized for his volunteer work at the local, provincial and federal levels, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, Kelowna’s Fred Macklin Award and Central OK Crimestoppers Award.

Sadly, Vittoria Iafrancesco passed away on June 5, 1990, Pasquale Iafrancesco passed away on June 10, 1994, Son, Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco passed away on November 2, 2018. All three are entombed at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Kelowna, BC.
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M. Bianca Russo Iafrancesco