Obituary for Maria Rosa Tassone
It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of a dear, well-loved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother Maria Rosa Tassone, on January 26, 2023 at the age of 102.
The youngest of 11 children, Maria Rosa was born in Brognaturo, Italy on October 1, 1920 to Antonio and Maria Concetta Rizzo. In 1954, Maria Rosa left Brognaturo with her three young daughters, to join her husband Francesco Nicola, who had immigrated to Canada two years earlier, in search of a better life for his family. Maria Rosa travelled first to the port of Naples, where she boarded the ship Vulcania, to traverse the Atlantic, arriving in Halifax at Pier 22. Here, she and her daughters were met by her husband Francesco and together they travelled by train, from the east coast to a small railroad station in the middle of the Northwestern Ontario wilderness; a community of five families. After two years the family moved to Port Arthur where years later, a fourth daughter was born.
Except for brief stints in the workforce, Maria Rosa devoted her life to family and extended family. As well as raising her children, while her husband worked out of town for many years, she also provided a home to various family members after they immigrated to Canada. Maria Rosa was the strong nurturing matriarch of the family.
Mom had a passion for life! She lived all aspects of her life rooted in her belief in God, which was displayed through her participation in daily Mass and through her acts of love, generosity and kindness to family, friends and neighbours. Her energetic personality supported her active lifestyle which included: daily walks (right into her 102nd year), household tasks, gardening, and upholding and teaching cultural traditions (cooking, baking, preserving). Her playful and joyful manner allowed her to make special connections with all her grandchildren and her wit left everyone smiling and laughing. She understood that life was full of challenges, but her passion for life allowed her to persevere through it all.
Maria Rosa was predeceased by her husband, Francesco Nicola and 3-year-old daughter Concettina, as well as 4 infants during childbirth; siblings: Angelo, Domenico, Giuseppe, Teresa, Rosaria, Nicola, Francesco, Antonio, Concetta and Bruno; son-in-law Nicola Tucci; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Pasquale and Concetta Tassone; granddaughter Suzanne Lacaria.
Maria Rosa is survived by her four daughters: Maria Rosa Tucci, Domenica Lacaria (Rocco), Bruna Lee, Rita Tassone; grandchildren: Nancy Persichino (Alessio), Biaggio Tucci (Francine), Rose Sinclair, Bruno Lacaria (Kirsten), Frank Lacaria, Katie Lacaria Manahan (Jason), Mary Giardetti (Mark); great-grandchildren: Alexandra Persichino (Simon), Nicholas Persichino (Hannah), Jessica Tucci (Ryan), Sean Sinclair, Maya Lacaria, Gabriella, Sofi and Sara Lacaria, Michael Manahan, Hanna, Angelica, Joel and Zach Giardetti; great-great grandchildren: Lennox Paquette, Adelaide, Lilianna and Mykhailo Persichino, Niomi Gallant. Maria Rosa is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Canada, Italy,
France, Australia and the USA.
Special thanks to Dr. Scali for his care of Maria Rosa during the past decades and to her eldest daughter, for providing Mom with a loving home during the past four years.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church with Rev. Luigi Filippini officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the Mass. The interment will follow in Our Lady of Charity Mausoleum located in St. Andrew's Cemetery. People wishing to celebrate the service virtually and those sending on-line condolences may do so at www.sargentandson.com. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to our hospital, TBRHSC General Health Care Fund.
“For all of us you gave your best
And now the time has come for you to rest. So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep.” (Author unknown)
The youngest of 11 children, Maria Rosa was born in Brognaturo, Italy on October 1, 1920 to Antonio and Maria Concetta Rizzo. In 1954, Maria Rosa left Brognaturo with her three young daughters, to join her husband Francesco Nicola, who had immigrated to Canada two years earlier, in search of a better life for his family. Maria Rosa travelled first to the port of Naples, where she boarded the ship Vulcania, to traverse the Atlantic, arriving in Halifax at Pier 22. Here, she and her daughters were met by her husband Francesco and together they travelled by train, from the east coast to a small railroad station in the middle of the Northwestern Ontario wilderness; a community of five families. After two years the family moved to Port Arthur where years later, a fourth daughter was born.
Except for brief stints in the workforce, Maria Rosa devoted her life to family and extended family. As well as raising her children, while her husband worked out of town for many years, she also provided a home to various family members after they immigrated to Canada. Maria Rosa was the strong nurturing matriarch of the family.
Mom had a passion for life! She lived all aspects of her life rooted in her belief in God, which was displayed through her participation in daily Mass and through her acts of love, generosity and kindness to family, friends and neighbours. Her energetic personality supported her active lifestyle which included: daily walks (right into her 102nd year), household tasks, gardening, and upholding and teaching cultural traditions (cooking, baking, preserving). Her playful and joyful manner allowed her to make special connections with all her grandchildren and her wit left everyone smiling and laughing. She understood that life was full of challenges, but her passion for life allowed her to persevere through it all.
Maria Rosa was predeceased by her husband, Francesco Nicola and 3-year-old daughter Concettina, as well as 4 infants during childbirth; siblings: Angelo, Domenico, Giuseppe, Teresa, Rosaria, Nicola, Francesco, Antonio, Concetta and Bruno; son-in-law Nicola Tucci; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Pasquale and Concetta Tassone; granddaughter Suzanne Lacaria.
Maria Rosa is survived by her four daughters: Maria Rosa Tucci, Domenica Lacaria (Rocco), Bruna Lee, Rita Tassone; grandchildren: Nancy Persichino (Alessio), Biaggio Tucci (Francine), Rose Sinclair, Bruno Lacaria (Kirsten), Frank Lacaria, Katie Lacaria Manahan (Jason), Mary Giardetti (Mark); great-grandchildren: Alexandra Persichino (Simon), Nicholas Persichino (Hannah), Jessica Tucci (Ryan), Sean Sinclair, Maya Lacaria, Gabriella, Sofi and Sara Lacaria, Michael Manahan, Hanna, Angelica, Joel and Zach Giardetti; great-great grandchildren: Lennox Paquette, Adelaide, Lilianna and Mykhailo Persichino, Niomi Gallant. Maria Rosa is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Canada, Italy,
France, Australia and the USA.
Special thanks to Dr. Scali for his care of Maria Rosa during the past decades and to her eldest daughter, for providing Mom with a loving home during the past four years.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church with Rev. Luigi Filippini officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the Mass. The interment will follow in Our Lady of Charity Mausoleum located in St. Andrew's Cemetery. People wishing to celebrate the service virtually and those sending on-line condolences may do so at www.sargentandson.com. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to our hospital, TBRHSC General Health Care Fund.
“For all of us you gave your best
And now the time has come for you to rest. So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep.” (Author unknown)