Emilio was born on May 28, 1935, in Ateleta, Provincia di L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. His parents were Vincenzo Nanci, a contadini, and Olimpia Di Biasi. He has two sisters: Palmerina Visocchi and Giovanna (Joanne) Cellini.

Lina was born on August 13, 1936, in  Acciano, Provincia di L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy.  Her parents were Nazareno Accili, a game warden, and Almina Giangregorio. She has three brothers: Ennio, Marcello, and Roberto, and three sisters: Clelia DiGiacomo, Gianna Margadonna and Vera Accili.

Emilio’s father, Vincenzo, sponsored by his sister, Domenica, came to Canada in the early 1940s. Emilio came to Canada in 1956, with his mother and two sisters, to meet up with their father, Vincenzo, who was already in North Vancouver, BC. Lina was sponsored by Emilio, her life long “fidanzato," and made the journey to Canada in 1958, in the dead of winter, by herself!  Both Lina and Emilio landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and took the train across Canada. They were married in North Vancouver, on January 10, 1959.

Emilio and Lina and family took a vacation to Kelowna, BC, in 1970, staying at the Canamara Motel on Lakeshore (now the Manteo resort). They fell in love with the area, as it reminded them of their home province in Italy. In 1974, they decided to move to Kelowna. They purchased some land in the Lower Mission and Emilio began to build homes and work in construction until he retired.  
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Lina, an amazing cook, worked at the old Eldorado Hotel, and various restaurants around town. In 1984, she opened a shoe store, called L’Aquila Foot Fashions. It was located downtown for over twelve years. She sold the business and dedicated her time, helping raise their grandchildren and volunteering at the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC). Lina was one of the original “mammas”, whose famous pasta dinners were always sold out.

Emilio dedicated a significant amount of time volunteering at the KCIC, and held various positions, such as: Entertainment Chair, Vice President, and President in 1981, 1984-1986, and 2010-2011. The KCIC was a wonderful place for Emilio and Lina to socialize with their many friends, over the years. They still attend Giuseppe’s Café for a reunion with all the older members. 

They have two children: Rosann and Enzo James (Cheryl). 

Contributed by Rosann Nanci, daughter.

In 1959, Mario Manderioli visited Canada as a tourist and it was then that his dream of having a “casetta in Canada” began to form. At that time, Mario and Luisa Manderioli, and their sons Flavio and Marzio, were living in San Rafael, Argentina. In 1962, the Manderiolis decided to return to Italy, to their hometown of Cento, Ferrara.

In 1965, Mario applied to emigrate to Canada and was accepted. Mario worked at his cousin’s farm at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. The rest of the family followed in 1966. The Manderiolis traversed the country by train with the goal of settling in Penticton. However, Mario found work as a field man at the Kelowna Growers Exchange (KGE) and the family settled in Kelowna. Mario worked at the KGE until 1986 and then was a consultant with Calona Wines for 3 years. Mario retired from work at age 77.

Mario was a horticulturist with extensive experience managing vineyards and orchards in Kenya, Argentina and Italy. He taught many farmers in the Okanagan how to prune and take care of their orchards. Mario was also passionate about cooking, gardening, wine-making, bocce and cross-country skiing. 

Luisa Manderioli was a home-maker but she also worked part time as an Avon lady. She was loved by her clients. Luisa was a wonderful cook, excelling at making bread and cakes, veal cutlets alla Milanese, rabbit stew and lasagne verdi. All who knew her appreciated her generosity, sharp sense of humour and zest for life.

Mario and Luisa were citizens of the world. Mario lived in Ethiopia and Kenya, and Luisa spent her entire childhood on Rhodes Island, Greece. They lived in Italy, Argentina and Canada, and also visited Hawaii, parts of Central America, South America and the Middle East. 

Without question the highlight of the year for the Manderioli family, was the tortellini luncheon held each Christmas day. Mario and Luisa loved to make tortellini from scratch, following carefully the homemade recipe of their grandparents.

Mario and Luisa Manderioli were very involved with the Canadian Italian community. Mario volunteered with the Italian Consulate and Luisa gave Italian lessons to adults and children. Mario and Luisa were avid dancers. Mario and Luisa participated in “Folk Fest” every Canada Day. In 1979 Luisa and Mario helped represent BC at the Multicultural Heritage Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Flavio Manderioli married Nereyda Guerrero and the couple resides in Colombia with their daughter Sofia. 

Marzio Manderioli married Anita Dumont and they live in Kelowna. Their son Jordan, lives in Toronto.
Luisa died in 2010 at age 87. Mario passed in 2011, only a couple months from turning 100. Both are interred in the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Contributed by Flavio and Marzio Manderioli, sons.

Victor Henry Ghini was born on February 12, 1919, in Richmond, BC. He had two sisters: Maria Ellen (Luigi Bevilacqua) and Anita Anna (Henry Bo Dickman) and five brothers: Hector (Sophia Clemons), Joseph Angelo, Julius Umberto (Myrtle Erma), Benvenuto Angelo (Rosalie Pictigen) and Enrico Donald (Florence McCooye). Their parents were Dominic Andrea Ghini and Ida Fontanini from Fontanaluccia, Frassinoro, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. 

Gloria Giorgette Ciancone was born on August 26, 1927, in Kelowna, BC. She had one brother, Mario (Berbie Reiswig), and one sister Vilma (Lou Guidi). Their parents were Alessio (Alex) Ciancone, from San Patito, Caserta, Campania, Italy, and Laura Guidi from Garfagnana, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.
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Gloria was very involved with the Italian Community in Kelowna, singing and dancing her way in concerts and folkfests. She preformed many solos at weddings and anniversary celebrations. Gloria became a professional opera singer, preforming at the Cave Supper Club and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC. Her most notable performance was at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.

Victor started his career as a carpenter, but soon switched to the concrete business. He worked for the Venetian Terrazzo and Mosaic Company in Los Angeles. They were responsible for the installation of many terrazzo floors in the Los Angeles area, including Disneyland.

Later, Victor, with his brother, Angelo, formed Ghini Brothers Terrazzo in Vancouver. In the 1960s, they installed many of Kelowna’s terrazzo floors, including Shops Capri (Capri Mall), Knox (Glenmore) Medical Clinic, Simpson-Sears (Shoppers Drug Mart) on Bernard and the Immaculata Conception and St Pius X Churches.

Victor met Gloria while picking fruit in Summerland, BC. They were married on July 11, 1946, in Kelowna. They had one child, Gerry (Alice Christoffersen).  Sadly, Gloria passed away on March 8, 1964.  She is laid to rest in the Ocean View Cemetery, Burnaby, BC.

Victor married a second time, to Patricia Pearl Dolman (Galley). Pearl could knit the coziest blankets, cook the best dinners and bake the freshest pies. She always loved to spend time with her grandchildren, always having a story to tell and knowing how to make them smile. After his retirement in 1974, Victor moved to Kelowna. He continued some floor installations, helping many members of the Italian community, placing terrazzo in their homes. Both Victor and Pearl were active members of the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, each holding board positions.

Victor passed away on December 11, 2011 at the age of 92. Pearl passed away on November 4, 2013, at age 75. She is survived by her children, Gina and Tim (Gena), from a previous marriage. Both Victor and Pearl are laid to rest at the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.

Contributed by D E Rampone, Co-Chair, Kelowna Canadian Italian Club’s Heritage Committee.

​Roy was the fifth, and the youngest child, of Palmizio and Luigia Favali. He was born in Kelowna, BC, on September 2, 1935.  We know he had some elementary education. Roy passed away on November 12, 1948 from a severe infection, possibly tonsillitis.  He is interred in the Immaculate Parish Cemetery on Casorso Road, along with his parents; Palmizio and Luigia Favali.

Marita Domenica Favali was the third child of Luigia and Palmizio.  What a beautiful name for their only daughter. Marita was born in Kelowna, BC, on October 21, 1930.  Her mother, Luigia, and two brothers, Frank and Mike, had been recently reunited with her father, Palmizio. 

We believe that Marita attended school longer than her two older brothers, Frank and Mike, but we are not certain.  She worked at the Kelowna Packing House.  By now, the family had moved out of the house on St. Paul Street and into the house on Richter Street.  While Marita was visiting her brother, Frank, in Kamloops, she met her future husband, Ernesto Comazzetto.  Marita and Ernie were married May 9, 1959 in Kamloops, BC.  They raised two children; Robert born 1960 and Teresa born 1961. 
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After the death of her father, Palmizio, Marita took her mother, Luigia, to live with them in Kamloops.  Marita worked as a cook at Harold’s Family Restaurant and ran the vegetable and fruit stand in the summer.  Ernie worked on the CP Railway and was a vegetable farmer.  

Both were very active in the Italian community in Kamloops; Ernie was a member of the Colombo Lodge Society and Marita was a member of the Royal Purple.  Making sausages and head cheese, as well as wine in the basement of their home, was a yearly occurrence.  Like the example before them, no one ever left the Comazzetto household empty handed.  Marita was a famous cook and everyone enjoyed her hospitality.  

They both lived in their home until their passing.  Ernie passed away July 21, 2001 and Marita passed away on August 24, 2015.  Both Marita and Ernie are interred in the Hillside Cemetery in Kamloops, B.C.

Contributed by Teresa Hanna, daughter.

How the Favali family settled in Kelowna, B.C.

Palmizio Oreste Favali and Luigia Lenzi were married in Filicaia, a hamlet in Camporgiano, Lucca, Tuscany, on August 21, 1921.  Their first son, Francesco (Frank), was born in Filicaia, on August 19, 1922.  When Luigia was pregnant with their second child, Palmizio left for Canada and settled in Kelowna.  Luigia and the two boys were reunited with Palmizio in Kelowna in late 1929.  They lived at 1226 St. Paul Street and had three more children.  The Italian community was a very tight knit community and the Favali family was active in it. 
 
After relocating to Kelowna, Frank attended elementary school until grade seven. Then he joined his father in the plastering and stucco business, Favali and Sons.  When the war broke out, Frank enlisted and was sent to a training camp in Kamloops, B.C.  He met Elsie Comazzetto, a daughter of a local Italian dairy farmer.  Prior to them getting married in Kamloops on September 2, 1946, Frank built a house for them on Richter Street in Kelowna.  They lived in this house until 1953 when they moved to Kamloops and continued raising their family there.  Frank worked in maintenance for a while and then started a plastering and stucco business with his brother, Mike.  Frank and Elsie had four children; Linda born 1948 in Kelowna, Marlene born 1949 in Kamloops, Jane born 1960 in Kamloops and Glen born 1964 in Kamloops.   Frank was an active member of the Elks Club and Elsie was active in the Royal Purple.  No one ever left the Favali family household empty handed.  Homemade sausages, wine, fresh baked goodies and fresh garden produce were always plentiful.  Elsie was well known for her wonderful baking.  

They lived in their house until their deaths. Frank passed away November 23, 1994 and Elsie passed away September 27, 2015.  They are interred in the Hillside Cemetery in Kamloops along with their daughter, Linda, who passed away September 12, 2010.
 
 Contributed by Marlene Potter, daughter.

Mike was born in 1923 in Montebelluna, Veneto, Italy. Norma was born in 1927 in Miradolo, Mestre, Venice. Mike spent several years in the Italian army before making his way to Canada. In 1953, Mike returned from Canada and married Norma. On his second voyage to Canada, he left Genoa (May 25, 1955) on the SS Constitution.  During this voyage, he met fellow barber, Mario Puppato. Mike made his way to Edmonton, Alberta. In 1964, Mike and Norma stopped to visit Mario in Kelowna, BC.  They were on their way to Vancouver to adopt their son, Ricardo.

Two years later, Mario convinced Mike to move to Kelowna and join him in what would become Mario’s 4 Barbers (Puppato, Zol, Franchini and Durante) in the Shops Capri strip mall. Mike opened his own barber shop, Sir Barber, on Lawrence Avenue in 1976. Seven years later, Mario Puppato retired from his shop at Capri, but this was short lived. He began working for Mike at Sir Barber. Norma spent many years as a hairdresser, in the same building where Sir Barber was located.

Mike was an avid Bocce player. He was one of several responsible for the establishment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre Bocce lanes. Later, with the aid of the City of Kelowna, he helped create and maintain the Bocce Club lanes near Rose Avenue. Mike was very proud of his park-like garden. He enjoyed visiting friends and neighbours and sharing his garden’s bounty with them.  Mike was a clever joke teller, always having the perfect joke for each of his friends or clients. He enjoyed his home-made wine and Norma’s crunchy bread.

Mike and Norma made many trips to attend events, such as the BC Summer Games in cities throughout British Columbia. They were active dancers.

Mike passed away at Kelowna General Hospital on February 10, 2019, at the age of 96.  Norma passed away peacefully on February 27, 2021 at the age of 94. They are survived by son Ricardo, two grand-daughters, Emily and Alyssa, and a large extended family.

Contributed by D E Rampone, co-chair Kelowna Canadian Italian Club Heritage Committee

Mattia, was born August 12, 1894, in San Giovanni di Casarsa, Province of Udine, Italy. He was one of four brothers and six sisters born to his father Giovanni Batista Culos and his mother Antonia Bertolini. 
Mattia, was the first to leave Italy at a young age of eighteen, in September 1912, to find a better life in Canada. Since prospects for a bright future in Canada seemed assured, plans were always ongoing for other members of Mattia’s family in Italy to venture to this promising country. Brother Davide, sister Rosa, and their mother Antonia followed to Kelowna….brother Giovachino (Jack) and sister Catterina emigrated and settled in Prince Rupert……and brother Oswaldo making roots in Detroit, Michigan. 

Mattia’s journey began by train to La Havre France, then onto the French ship ‘Lorraine’ for a seven-day voyage to New York. He then travelled by train to Montreal, Quebec, then to Sicamous and Vernon, BC, where he boarded the paddle wheeler at Okanagan Landing, down the lake to Kelowna, BC, joining other courageous young men like himself who had arrived earlier. 

A couple of Mattia’s many opportunities had him working on the Kettle Valley Railway and Crawford Sawmill, which enabled him eventually to purchase a fifteen-acre farm on Gordon Drive, where the Evangel Church is now located. A few years later, Cestilia Bazzana left Italy to begin the same journey that Mattia took. They married on October 27, 1923, and built a life together on the farm, raising five beautiful children, Reno, Antonia, Louis, Gerti and Lena. 

Many other Italian families lived in the same area and called it the Mission Creek Italian District. An Italian Hall was built where everyone met for dances, box lunches, and social gatherings! 

Times were tough, but as hard working as the families were, they always took Sundays off, going to church in the morning, packing a big picnic, maybe driving to Canyon Creek, or Shuswap Falls with other Italian famiglias. Everything was closed on Sundays giving everyone time to relax, visit, and enjoy. 
Horse and buggy were the mode of transportation, until Mattia proudly purchased his first truck in 1944.

Four years later, Kerosene lanterns were replaced by electricity and those hard times became easier! 
Mattia and Cestilia spent all their working life on this farm, retiring in 1960, selling the farm in 1961, and buying a house in town on Bowes Street, where the house still stands to this day. 

Sadly, Mattia had only one year in retirement before passing August, 1961. Cestilia lived for another twelve years, passing September 1973. 
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Contributed by Gerti Bachmann (Nee Culos), daughter.

Liz Cozzetto was my great-aunt, and I am blessed to have had the chance to learn from her, as she was a huge part of my up bringing and contributing to the person I am today.  Born into a first generation Italian family, with seven brothers and sisters, in the cold mining town of Michel-Natal, BC, (now Sparwood), Liz worked hard to overcome the barriers of being a woman in the early 1940’s. She worked in odd jobs: washing clothes for the local bachelors, waitressing at The Coffee Corner cafe, which was located next to Porco’s pool hall, peeling and canning fruit at The Cannery. Later on in life, she volunteered for the local senior associations, where she called Bingo and worked in the kitchen.

Liz always had a smile, showed kindness and loved making sure that those around her were cared for. She was coined the “Coffee Counter Cutie” to the Kelowna Packers hockey team.” They always searched for the waitress with the infectious smile. Even though she never had kids of her own, she sponsored many children in third world countries and raised those within her own family. 

A natural leader, Liz was a whiz in the kitchen, making up traditional meals, for not only family and friends, but also for the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC) functions. She was known to have a long table full of meatballs and a spare bed covered in fresh pasta. On Sundays, you could smell the sauce from outside her house, stewing beginning at 7 am. Her home was always open to those in need of a fresh percolated coffee and a good chat. 

Liz Cozzetto has left her legacy in this community. She was on the Executive Council and the first female president of the KCIC. She created the first all female KCIC Council that included other strong, hard working women: Bianca Ianfrancesco, Pearl Ghini and Rosann Nanci.  Liz also contributed greatly to the club by working diligently to ensure the club had a hall, buying it from the Seniors Citizen’s Branch 76, which she was a member.  
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Liz is a true example of a strong woman with morals and who exemplified what it is to be a well respected woman.

Contributed by Francesca Pugliese Verges, great niece.

Mario was born in September, 1939, to parents Umberto Cerminara and Chiara Fontera, in SevelIi, Sila, Crotone, Calabria, Italy. His brothers are Francesco, Vittorio and Geno.  He has one sister, Rosa Maria. The Cerminara family moved to Edmonton in 1953.

Sharon Chouinard was born in May, 1945, to parents Peter Chouinard and Agnes Edna Minns, in Edmonton, Alberta. She had no siblings. Mario and Sharon were married in Edmonton, in 1966.

On June, 1967 Mario and Sharon made the decision to leave Edmonton for a warmer climate.  Mario had made a trip though Kelowna, BC, in 1962, and was impressed with the area. Mario and his brother, Francesco, made plans to move to Kelowna and open a Pizza shop, in the George Tinling complex of buildings, where Mission Park is now located. Their business proposal fell through, so Mario took a job with the City of Kelowna engineering department, where he remained until his retirement in 2004.

Sharon was a hairdresser and worked for over 50 years at various places such as Sutherland Hills seniors home. For many years, Mario and Sharon enjoyed gardening, preserving hundreds of jars of fruit and vegetables from their Parsons Road home. In 1958, Mario bought his first guitar, and spent many years playing for local orchestras. For twenty years, Mario was a member of the Knights of Columbus choir, under the direction of Eric Buckley. They sang to audiences in many parts of British Columbia. Joining the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club in 1967, he was very proud to travel with the Club to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the 1979 International Folkfest and to Expo 86 in Vancouver, BC.

They left their Parsons Rd house in 2007 and have spent the following years condo living. Through the Parkinson’s Seniors Centre, they have enjoyed hiking and biking.

Sharon and Mario had two children: Vince, who passed away at age 23, and Lisa who married Jim Strachan.  They have two grandchildren.

Contributed by D E Rampone, Co-Chair, Kelowna Canadian Italian Club Heritage Committee.