Umberto Cagnoni and Anna Maggi

Anna and Umberto Cagnoni

Umberto was born in 1945 in Valgli Sotto, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy to parents Vitale Cagnoni (a marble cutter) and Domenica Carolina Bonsarra.  Umberto has four brothers: Marco, Albano, Enrico and Virgilio (Reggio) and one sister, Albarosa. 

In 1964, the family joined cousins and nephews in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.  Many fellow townspeople also immigrated to the Yellowknife area.  Umberto began his working years as a painter, a trade he kept later on in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1969  he moved to Kelowna, BC, and got a job as a painter for Sun-Rype. He slowly switched from painting to some maintenance work. During the following years, he earned his millwright ticket. He was very involved  with The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC), undertaking terms as President, Bocce Court manager and clubhouse maintenance volunteer. Umberto retired in 2008.  He has two children, Amanda and Anthony, from a previous marriage.

Anna was born in 1946 in Rome, Lazio,  Italy to parents, Riccardo Maggi and Carolina Olivia. Anna has a sister, Rosalda, and a brother, Giancarlo, both in Rome. She became a travel agent in Rome, where she learned to speak English. At age 21, she obtained Visas to travel to both Australia and Canada. She made her journey to New York, then by bus through Fort Erie to Toronto, Ontario, before boarding the cross- Canada-train to Vancouver, BC. She has two sons, Malley and Paul, from a previous marriage.  They spent some time in Cassiar, BC, where Anna worked as a lab technician. She was an active skier, snowshoer and hiker.

Always looking for a better place to live, Anna bought the Marvel Travel Agency in Kelowna, in 1986. On opening day, KCIC President, Joe Iafrancesco, walked in and invited her to join KCIC. Anna met Umberto at the club. They were married in 2004.  They both remained very active with the club. Now they spend their days travelling, gardening and making wine.
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Contributed by Don Rampone, Co-Chair, Kelowna Canadian Italian Club Heritage Committee