It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Maria Romano on November 7, 2024. Maria passed away peacefully at the age of 95 surrounded by her family in Victoria, BC. Predeceased by her mother, Antonietta and sister, Domenica, she is survived by her beloved husband of 75 years, Antonio Romano, daughter Michelina (Mickie), son-in-law Bill, granddaughters Teresa (Michael), Laura (Ian) and great-granddaughter Lucy.
Born in Boijano, Italy on September 9, 1929, Maria immigrated to Banff, Alberta in 1957 with her husband Antonio and daughter Michelina to start a new life in Canada. Maria worked hard for twenty years with the Alberta schoolboard as a Custodian at Banff Elementary School alongside her husband. Maria was loved and cherished by many within the Banff community for her generosity and desire to make others feel welcomed in her home, including tourists who would stop to admire and take pictures of her charming garden. In 1993, Maria and Antonio retired and moved to Victoria, BC to be closer to their daughter and her family. Maria developed many life-long friendships in Victoria with members of the Italian community and enjoyed these relationships well into her later years. Maria found great joy in cooking, crochet and knitting and growing vegetables and flowers in her cherished garden on Mount Douglas X Road. What started as selling a few bouquets of flowers in front of her house one summer, eventually turned into a permanent flower stand that brought joy to the community for over a decade. She was described as strong-willed and someone who never took “no” for an answer, especially if you declined a second helping of food in her home.
Maria was blessed with strength, good health and happiness for most of her life. Maria’s family would like to thank all the medical staff, including the doctors, nurses, and health care aids for their excellent care and support during her time at the Summit long-term care home.
A funeral service to celebrate Maria’s life will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 10:00 am, in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria BC. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Maria to the BC Cancer Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
-
Eleanor Montour
-
Lou Reda To Mickie, Bill and others in a sad situation. Maria will be
missed but she will be with us from here on.Lou and Laura Reda
-
Josephine Pagnotta So sorry for your loss. Condolences to the whole family.
-
Teresa Delli Carri Mickie Bill and family our deepest condolences for the great loss. Maria was a wonderful woman and very friendly, she will be missed by many friends. May God give you strength at this time
-
Antonietta Ritrovato Sincere condolences to Tony, Mickie, Bill and all the Family. The world has lost another great Lady, but Heaven has a beautiful Angel now watching over all the Family. May you all be comforted by all the memories you all enjoyed throughout the years.
Hugs to everyone.
Love, Antonietta Ritrovato.
-
Vienna and Tony Caputo Michelina e Tonino
We we were saddened to hear by the passing of your mother and wife, Maria. We offer our heartfelt condolences. There are no words which can ease your pain at this moment. In the days and weeks ahead may the grace of god calm your thoughts during this time of grief.
Tony, my deepest sympathy to you and your family. I am so sorry to hear about Maria. I have happy memories of both of you from when I was Teacher-Librarian at Banff Elementary in the 1970s. Maria would brighten up the library over the winter, with geraniums on every windowsill. And then in the short growing season, there was your amazing garden, unequalled in Banff, and you were so generous in sharing its flowers, fruit and vegetables (especially those huge tomatoes. How did you do it?).