Obituary of John Flessati

John Flessati died peacefully and surrounded by loved ones at the Rosedale Hospice on Sunday, August 15, 2004. John was born in Deggiano, in the Trentino province of northern Italy. He left Italy on his own in 1950 in order to follow his dream of living in Canada. What an adventure it has been! He initially settled in the Bowden area and one year later moved to Calgary where he married in 1956 and raised a family. Although part of his heart remained in Italy, John was also a proud Canadian. John led an active life and was socially engaged with many friends. In the past, John was a volunteer with Special Olympics Calgary. He was a member of the Trentini Cultural Club of Alberta and the Our Lady of Grace Seniors Group. He enjoyed playing cribbage at the Elks Club and swimming at Renfrew Pool. He was renowned for his polenta-making skills, and loved tending his tomatoes in his garden and playing a good game of cribbage. John was a man who took great passion in living his life and all it had to offer. He loved a fine glass of wine, a piece of cheese and sharing stories with friends. John approached both the celebratory moments and obstacles of life with unwavering optimism. He leaves this legacy of living in addition to his gifts of memories and stories that shall live on in the hearts of family and friends. John will be missed. A loving father and friend, John is survived by his two children, Drs. Gene and Sonya Flessati; dearest friends Anna and Tony Vizzutti; and nephews and cousins in the Val di Sole and Bolzano, Italy, as well as in New York, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Bowden. John was predeceased by his wife Drina (Strappazzon); daughter Carla; and father-in-law Nono Gianni. John was also predeceased by his parents; and sister Barbara in Italy. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Grace Italian and English Catholic Church (1714 – 14th Avenue N.E.) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 at 10:30 A.M. Graveside Service to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations in memory of John Flessati may be made directly to Rosedale Hospice (Hospice Calgary): Suite 900, 833 – 4 Ave SW, Calgary, T2P 3T5. Telephone: (403) 263-4546. Our thanks go out to Drs. Ross MacDonald, E. Dixon, M. Ma and V. Ewa, and the staff at the Foothills Medical Centre and the Peter Lougheed Centre. Extra special thanks to the angels of the Rosedale Hospice who treated John with much love, dignity and respect. In living memory of John Flessati, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, TELEPHONE: (403) 276-2296.