Mrs. Maria Di Matteo (nee Foglia) age 81 years, a resident of Southbridge Pinewood passed away peacefully on Friday, January 21, 2022. Maria was born to parents Sebastiano and Concetta in Comiziano, Naples, Italy. As she was fond of telling, she came to Canada by plane arriving in Fort William on a wintry December 19th, 1960 to meet Nicola Di Matteo and they were wed on January 28, 1961. They lived first on Dease Street, later a house on Mary Street and then a house on Frederica. Maria worked as a presser at Dresswell Cleaners and later at Supreme Cleaners retiring at the age of 60. She was a member of St. Agnes R.C. Church. Maria was educated at a convent school and acquired an interest in poems and literature and many skills and talents which she shared with family and friends. An accomplished seamstress, Maria took pride in making and repairing clothing. She also found enjoyment in making elaborate Sunday dinners for family, gardening, crocheting and embroidering as well as making homemade tomato sauce, sausages and bread. Known for her sense of humour, kindness and honesty, Maria loved to socialize, laugh and joke with her family and friends. Family was very important to Maria. She was very proud of her son and daughter, her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren and the people they had become.
Maria will be lovingly remembered by her children Livio (Rosanna) and Giovanna, grandchildren Olivia (Gary) and Nicholas (Meagan), brother Vittorio (Nancy) Foglia, sister Illuminata (Salvatore) Santorelli, as well as by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives, her stead-fast and long-time friends, and her fur baby Gus. She was predeceased by her husband Nicola, brother Angelo and sisters Antonietta, Lorenzina, and Anna. Now she too belongs to the ages.
Il passero solitario di Giacomo Leopardi
D'in su la vetta della torre antica, Passero solitario, alla campagna
Cantando vai finché non more il giorno; Ed erra l'armonia per questa valle.
A very special heartfelt thanks to all the Hummingbird staff at Southbridge Pinewood for your kindness, compassion and caring during our Mom’s stay with you. You are truly angels.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 2pm when family and friends gather for Funeral Mass in St. Agnes R.C. Church, with Rev. James Panikulam presiding. There will be live streaming via the St. Agnes Facebook page. Private family interment to follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service in the church. To attend the Visitation or Funeral Mass please RSVP by calling the Blake Funeral Chapel at 623-6446 or go to Maria’s page at www.blakefuneralchapel.com. Should friends desire and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay would be appreciated.