The Orsi Family

The Orsi Family. Elsie and Egidio Orsi, Leslie, Gladys and Arthur. June 1925.

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In 1910, the first Orsi family member to arrive here was Pasquale.  In 1915 he married Maria Coli.  Next was his brother Egidio, who arrived in Kelowna in 1913.  Egidio met his future wife, Elsie Woods, at the “Kelowna Evaporator” where they were both working. Here, fruits and vegetables were dried and sent overseas to England for consumption by the troops serving in the First World War.  Egidio spent ten years in Seattle as a member of the San Carlo Opera Company.  By 1925 he moved back to Kelowna where he became a masonary contractor eventually forming Orsi and Sons Contracting.  Elsie, who had arrived from England in 1914, was well known for her athletic prowness, particularly swimming, bowling and fishing.   They had three children: Rino Les (Elsie), Gladys (John Chapman) and Arthur (Virginia).