Obituary of Pietro Giammarino

Pietro Santino Giammarino (Pete) beloved husband of Concetta of Calgary, passed away at the Colonel Belcher Care Centre on Saturday, November 29, 2003, at the age of 83 years.

Pietro (Pete) was born on October 31, 1920, in Fossacesia Marina, Italy. He went to school in Fossacesia and later served with the Italian army in Albania and Greece during the Second World War. Upon release from a POW camp in Germany, he made his way back to Fossacesia where he met and married Concetta on February 2, 1948. Ten months after Gino was born they immigrated to Canada by boat and then travelled by train to Delia, AB, arriving on December 31, 1949. Shortly after arriving in Delia, they moved to Calgary where Pietro built the family’s first house in Bridgeland with the help of Guerino Raffin. He began a loyal career with the City of Calgary which encompassed twenty-seven years of diligent service. Pietro retired in October 1979. During those years, three more sons were born to the venturesome couple; Lorenzo, Ronald, and Ricardo. Pietro enjoyed travelling and made many trips back to his beloved Italy. Besides travelling, he enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and gardening. But above all, a glass of wine with friends and family brought lots of laughs and memorable moments to him and Concetta. His greatest joy was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved to spend every spare minute teaching them to fish, catch crabs and how to grow and tend a garden. His presence will be greatly missed but never forgotten every time we sit down to share a meal, story, or a game of cards.

The family is forever grateful to the staff of the Colonel Belcher for the love, care and kindness they gave to Pietro.

Besides his loving wife Concetta of 55 years, he is survived by his four sons and three daughters-in-law; Gino (Gail) of Calgary, Lorenzo of Calgary, Ronald (Stephanie) of Vancouver, Ricardo (Betti-Anne) of Calgary, nine grandchildren; Krista, Candice, Matthew, Jessica, Jacob, Mark, Alyssa, Rebecca, Katie, two great-grandchildren; Jakob and TylerVan. He is also survived by his sisters; Luisa Bussoli, Anna Stante and Maria Menna. He was predeceased by a brother Donato, his father Nunziato and his mother Giacinta.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, #201, 222 – 58 Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 2S3. Telephone: (403) 290-0110.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S “Chapel of the Bells”, (2720 Centre Street North), December 1, 2003, at 7:00 P.M.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke’s Catholic Church (Corner of Northmount Drive & Northland Drive N.W.) on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at 10:30 A.M. with the Rev. Inocencio C. Cambaling, Presiding.

In living memory of Pietro Giammarino a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 276-2296.