Stories

Ricci, Roger #1963 *

Honoured by his children.

It is with great pleasure that we celebrate our Father’s 80th birthday by honouring him with a Leaf of Inspiration on the Pergola.

Roger Ricci was born in North Bay, December 12, 1932.

Dad was one of 13 siblings.  Life was hard and work came at an early age. Dad started delivering papers for the North Bay Nugget and soon afterward started within the company in the job printing division.

Dad obtained his black belt in Judo and started his own judo club, The North Bay Judo Club in 1956/57 at the age of 24.  Dad trained two police forces in North Bay; the North Bay Police and The Ontario Provincial Police. Dad also trained the nurses at what was called the Ontario Hospital in North Bay and the Sudbury Police Department as well as several other members of the community.

Dad, at the age of 19/20 joined and was one of the founding members of The Davedi Club and later became president for a year.  He is now a proud life-time member.

Married in 1959 to our wonderful mother Carol, they had six children and now have 15 Grandchildren and step Grandchildren.

In 1963, Dad and our mother decided to open their own printing shop, Ricci’s Fine Printing Ltd. with three children under the age of three years old.

Dad’s hard work and dedication to his family proved to be rewarding by raising his six children the best way he knew how.  To this day Dad is still hard at work either at the printing shop or working on his apartments.  Dad always said, “I am doing this for all of you,” and kept true to his word.

Thanks to our father, we will always carry with us a strong work ethic along with pride and determination.

Dad you are in our hearts forever.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad.

With love from your children Tom, Sue, Chris, Paul, Jason and Steven.

Grabiec, Kasia Zofie #812

Honoured by Friends of Meggan and Jerry Grabiec.

Thank you for honouring Kasia Zofie Grabiec with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project.  Story to follow.

Deschene, Aline #322 *

Honoured with much love from her 20 grandchildren:

Sylvie, Lise, Eric, Amanda, Shannon, Erin, Erica, Brianne, Heather, Stephanie, Stacey, Lindsay, Courtney, Kristin, Carly, Jennifer, Alison, Kendra, Ashley, Caitlyn

Aline Beatrice Deschene (nee Gauvin) was born on December 19th, 1932 in Corbeil to parents Ernestine (née Charette) and Antonio Gauvin.  Aline was raised in North Bay along with five siblings: Cecile, Thérèse, Dorval, Mignonne and MarieRose.

On January 19th 1948 Aline married Edgar Deschene in North Bay.  They had six children: Patricia (Émilio), Cecile (John), Charles (Elizabeth), Louise (Robert), Alice (Gerry), Colette (Dalton).  Aline has been a hard worker all her life, she stayed at home raising her children as well as helping her husband Edgar who was a stone mason, lifting and loading rocks from the quarry.  Aline then worked for Deluxe Transportation for 23 years as a school bus driver.

Aline has always been a very loving and generous mother who has always made herself available for her children.  She has many nieces and nephews who still drop in to visit with her often.  A hub of activity, her house has always been filled with family and friends.  Along with her 20 grandchildren, Aline currently has 11 great-grandchildren with three more on the way.

Aline has spent many years volunteering her time and giving back to the North Bay community.  Last year she received her 25 Years of Volunteer Service from Nipissing Manor. Aline volunteered at Leisure World for over 20 years spending time helping others.  She has been a long time member of Les Filles D’Isabelle helping to raise funds for church and school needs.  Aline has been an active member of the Comité de Sympathie helping to organize and prepare meals for funerals in her parish, St. Vincent De Paul, where she was also a Eucharistic Minister up until a few years ago.

Aline has many interests and hobbies; she loves to knit and always has orders from her large family for baby sweaters, Christmas stockings, mittens, etc.  She is a great card player and has even been known to act in several church plays with her friends.  She is a wonderful cook and was known throughout North Bay for her wonderful pies (sugar, fruit, tourtière, etc.) as well as her famous fudge.  Aline has always been lively with a sense of adventure, she used to take several of her 20 grandchildren for days at a time throughout the summer; there was never a dull moment!

Aline has always been the well-loved matriarch of our large family, she continues to guide and support her children and grandchildren through her wisdom, experience and humour.  Many wishes for continued health and happiness, we love you.

 

Trinity United Church #1906

Honoured by past, present and future parishioners.

Thank you for honouring your congregation and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project.  Story to follow.

Lake Nipissing #227

Honoured by Peggy Walsh Craig

Thank you for honouring beautiful Lake Nipissing and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park.  Story to follow.

Scarfone, Santo & Anna #225 *

THE CHILDREN OF SANTO AND ANNA ARE HONOURING THEIR PARENTS

The story begins in 1953 when our parents, Santo and Anna Scarfone, left their homeland in Santo Stefano D’Aspromonte, Provincia di Reggio Calabria, Italia, to come to an unknown land in Canada in search for their dream for a better life.  Our parents were married in Italy in 1949, after our father served in WWII.  Our parents endured many struggles in their young life, having to work extremely hard everyday.

In 1951, their son, Rocco was born, and when he was only two years of age, they immigrated to Canada, traveling by ship for eighteen days aboard the SS Conte Biancamano, across theAtlantic Ocean, leaving their family behind.  This was truly a very difficult time.

Arriving first in Halifax, and then reaching their final destination in North Bay,Ontario, our father soon began working for the CPR Railway. He also took any job that came his way to help provide for his family.  Even with a language barrier, our parents persevered and in time, they were able to help bring other family members to Canada.

In 1955, their second child was born, Giuseppina (Josie) and then in 1957, twins, Rosa Maria (Rosemary) and Giuseppe (Joe).  Our parents showed us much love and shared tradition with us, teaching us the importance of respect and hard work.

Our parents have a love for gardening, and still, after 63 years of marriage, are planting seeds, reminding us how people survived back in their day.

Our mother’s love is expressed best through her cooking and baking.  You can always smell the sweetness of her baking when you enter their home. Nobody can beat our mother’s skills in the kitchen, “So what does Nonna do to make her meatballs taste so delicious!?” ask the grandchildren.

Our father has such a love for music.  He sings all the time and plays the harmonica.  We have all danced to his music and now even the great-grandchildren are doing the same.

Our parents became involved in the Italian Club, the Davedi, where our father was President and served his title well.  He worked diligently to keep the club in good standing.  They enjoyed many activities, celebrations and danced many tarantellas!

So today, we honour our parents, for their example of strength, love and compassion, for teaching us love and respect, morals and values, for sharing tradition with us and stressing the importance of keeping it up.

Our parents have celebrated 63 years of marriage, still live in their own home, have twelve grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and no doubt many more to come and to love.

After retiring from the CPR, having worked 31 years, there sits a Silver Leaf at the very heart of the station where life began for our parents.  This is a “Leaf of Inspiration” and that is what you are to all of us, Mamma e Papa/ Nonni, an inspiration.

We will always treasure you, as you are the most precious jewels in our treasure box.

Vi Vogliamo Bene!

We Love You!

McIntosh, Bob #224

Honoured by Maureen McIntosh.

Thank you for purchasing a Leaf of Inspiration honouring Bob McIntosh and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project.  Story to follow.