Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness as we announce the loss of our matriarch, Annita DeLuca Pontarelli on October 26, 2024 at the beautiful age of 98 years and 8 months.
In the town of Rocchetta a Volturno, on February 28, 1926 Raimondo (1899-1990) and spouse Clotilde Di Paolo (1905-1974) welcomed their first born, Annita. Little sister Lida, best friend and confidant in life, arrived two years later. After a 5 year interval Guglielmo, a boy was born and the last child Antonio joined them 4 years later. The children were taught from an early age the importance of caring for their agricultural activities to ensure the family always had the provisions needed to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. After WWII life was harsh in the small town. Annita was destined to be the first of her siblings to immigrate to Canada. In March of 1957, she arrived in Montreal holding the hand of a little boy, Americo, to join her husband Domenico Pontarelli (1923-2015). Together they began to organize the household and dreamed of a better future for that little boy. That little boy realized his parent's dream by being the first in the family to obtain a University Degree and have a successful business career. Annita, like all immigrants found work soon after her arrival to Canada to help sustain her family. She was first employed at Gattuso on the food packaging lines. Later she found work closer to her home in Ville Emard, at Ideal Bedspread.
Annita's spiritual devotion to the Lord was constant. She could name, on any day of the week, which Saint was being honored. When she was no longer able to attend Mass at Parrochia San Giovanni Bosco, she devoted herself to watching the Papal Mass from Basilica San Pietro, broadcast on RAI Italia. Another religious companion in her home was Radio Maria.
She also kept up-to-date on current events by reading Il Cittadino Canadese and tuning in daily to CFMB Radio Italiana. So many phone calls were received to alert us, to turn on the TV because such and such was happening somewhere in the world or to watch the San Remo festival, or to look at “the scandalous dresses” on Ballando con le Stelle. Annita did indeed enjoy her music and would always remind you the singer’s name!
Annita's passions, up to her passing, were her flowers and her garden. There were always enough beans and tomatoes to share with the family. And much to her displeasure, the raccoons, squirrels and birds also enjoyed the fruits and vegetables of her hard work....AAARRRGH.
She was devoted to preparing homemade meals for her family right until she could no longer roll the dough and manage the stove; Gnocchi, tagliatelle, frittata, meat balls, pizzelle, ricotta pie, patate e faggioli, etc. There was always extra for everyone to take home.
Annita lived a modest but comfortable life, always caring about the essential family needs: home, food, clothing, and wellbeing. Her desire to be with family took her to California, Chicago and Italy.
She was affectionately called Nonna Annita. She was a strong and positive figure in our lives. She had lots of love for life and family. She was always giving. Extremely delighted when surrounded by all her family, and in return she received the best gift, the love from her 3 grandchildren and the 6 great-grandchildren. Today, that little boy, Americo, remembers and mourns his ever loving mom. He knows she is at peace and has reunited with his dad, her husband the love of her life. Annita will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her cherished daughter-in-law Monique Cambria, her grandchildren Marc (Tuyet), Eric (Vanessa), Robert (Genevieve). And of course her 6 great grandchildren Adelia. Raymond, Luca, Sophia, Mica, and Emilia. Also mourning the passing of Annita are her nieces and nephews; Domenico (Silvana), Antonietta (late Lorne), Rita (Isidore), Tilda (Franck), Peter (Nicki), Mary (Jim), and Remo.
We would like to offer our thanks and deep gratitude to the Verdun CLSC, for their outstanding service. We are very grateful to the exceptional medical SAD team lead by Dre. Eveline Gaillardetz and Nurse Claudia Demers. We are especially thankful to the many auxiliaries that helped her on a daily basis, but especially those who knew her best Joanne, Marie-Lyne, Cinthia, Marilene and Andeep. Their kindness and empathy have no limit. We are indebted to Isabelle who provided her with care and companionship in fluent Italian!
We also, send a note of gratitude to her long time doctors; Dr. Francois Langlais and Dr. L. Bertolo. Dr. Bertolo respected and treated Annita with the same attention and kindness she would have given her own mother.
In lieu of flowers, we invite you to send a donation to Saint John Bosco Parish. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/la-fabrique-de-la-paroisse-de-saint-jean-bosco-archidiocese/